The Federal Government and UNICEF have raised alarms over the lack of private-sector investment in the public toilet business, calling it crucial to ending open defecation in Nigeria.
At the ‘Private Sector Consultation for an Open Defecation-Free Nigeria’ in Lagos, experts highlighted that such investments would significantly accelerate Nigeria’s efforts toward achieving Open Defecation-Free (ODF) status.
UNICEF’s Chief of WASH, Jane Bevan, emphasized the need for sanitation facilities to meet the UN’s SDG targets, noting that the private sector could access loans to build public toilets. Federal Ministry officials stressed that with 48 million Nigerians lacking access to toilets, collaboration with the private sector is essential for the provision and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure.
Key stakeholders urged for sustainable investment in public sanitation, emphasizing that proper maintenance and a supportive legal framework are vital for success.
