As Nigeria races against time to achieve its Open Defecation Free (ODF) status by 2030, stakeholders are intensifying calls for a more strategic and inclusive approach to public sanitation across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
During a recent sensitisation rally in Abuja titled “Clean FCT: Use the Toilet,” organisers emphasized that achieving the ODF target will require more than infrastructure—it will demand behavioral change, grassroots engagement, and stronger public-private collaboration.
The campaign, led by the FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Directorate (RUWASSA) in partnership with Wastebox Ltd., a waste management company, aimed to raise public awareness on the health and environmental dangers of open defecation. The rally, which began at Area 1 motor park and moved through the Garki District, reached motorists, traders, and passersby with hygiene education and sanitation materials.
Speaking at the event, Chika Ibe of Wastebox Ltd. stressed that the problem is especially pronounced in rural and underserved areas where access to toilet facilities is limited.
“Open defecation contaminates food and water sources, fueling outbreaks of diseases like cholera,” Ibe said. “To meet the 2030 ODF target, we must strengthen partnerships among government ministries, NGOs, and the private sector. Everyone has a role to play.”
She added that as part of its corporate social responsibility, Wastebox Ltd. supports communities through waste evacuation, sewer line maintenance, recycling, and mobile toilet services—particularly for events and public spaces where toilets are scarce.
Referencing the World Health Organization’s original 2025 target, now extended to 2030, Ibe emphasized the urgency of doubling down on current efforts.
For public health officers on the frontline, like Esther Shettima from FCT RUWASSA’s Sanitation Department, the challenge lies not only in building facilities but also in encouraging their consistent use.
“Even with public toilets available in key areas of the FCT, open defecation still persists,” she noted. “We’ve made progress, but if we relax, we risk undoing all the gains.”
Shettima praised the joint campaign effort, especially as Nigeria enters the peak of the rainy season—a time when waterborne diseases become more prevalent due to increased environmental contamination.
“This campaign is timely,” she said. “Open defecation during the rainy season is especially dangerous as faecal matter can easily spread through water systems, endangering communities miles away.”
Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest open defecation rates globally, despite being Africa’s largest economy. For development advocates and environmental health professionals, the solution lies in combining sustained awareness with real investment in community infrastructure—especially for the most vulnerable populations.
As the world works toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including universal access to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), Nigeria’s ODF journey offers lessons in both challenge and resilience. From motor parks to ministries, the call is clear: Sanitation is not a luxury—it’s a human right.