The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, has revealed that Nigeria requires 11.6 million additional toilets and an annual budget of N10 billion to achieve its Open Defecation Free (ODF) target by 2030.
Utsev made this disclosure while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday.
He noted that despite the ambitious target, only half of the required annual budget has been allocated, presenting a major challenge to meeting the goal.
“The challenge is not only the number of toilets available but also raising awareness and encouraging their consistent use,” Utsev said, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.
To intensify efforts, the minister announced plans to elevate the national campaign against open defecation, with Vice President Kashim Shettima set to lead the relaunch of the government’s ODF strategy in a more impactful manner.
Open defecation remains a significant public health and environmental issue in Nigeria, and experts emphasize the urgency of addressing the situation to improve hygiene and sanitation across the country.