By Abdullahi Lukman
As the world prepares to observe World Toilet Day on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, UNICEF reports that approximately 46 million people in Nigeria continue to practice open defecation, with 23 percent of the population lacking improved sanitation facilities.
Across the globe, attention turns to one of the most fundamental yet overlooked human needs — access to safe and dignified sanitation.
This year’s theme: “We’ll Always Need the Toilet,” highlights the need for resilient and inclusive sanitation systems capable of withstanding climate change, urbanisation, and population growth.
World Toilet Day, first initiated by the World Toilet Organization in 2001 and formally adopted by the United Nations in 2013, is a global observance aimed at advancing Sustainable Development Goal 6 — ensuring clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.
In Nigeria and across Africa, sanitation remains a critical challenge.
Despite progress over the past decade, millions of Nigerians still lack access to basic sanitation.
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has been at the forefront of efforts to address these gaps.
Central to this effort is the Clean Nigeria Campaign, which aims to make the country open defecation-free by 2025.
The campaign combines behavioural change initiatives with the construction of safe and affordable sanitation facilities in both rural and urban communities.
Over the past two years, the Ministry has commissioned more than 500 water supply and sanitation projects nationwide, including toilets in schools, markets, and health centres.
Several Local Government Areas have been officially certified as open defecation-free through collaborative efforts with state governments and development partners.
Officials emphasise the direct link between sanitation, health, and national development.
Poor sanitation contributes to waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea, which disproportionately affect children under five. Lack of safe sanitation also impacts women and girls, who face safety and dignity risks without private facilities.
Experts stress that sanitation is not only a public health issue but also an economic and environmental one. Inadequate sanitation leads to lost productivity, higher healthcare costs, and environmental degradation.
The increasing impacts of climate change further underscore the importance of resilient systems, particularly in flood-prone and drought-affected regions of Nigeria.
Despite progress, challenges remain. Funding gaps, weak maintenance structures, and limited community engagement continue to slow the pace of achieving nationwide sanitation goals.
Stakeholders call for stronger coordination among government agencies, private sector actors, and civil society to scale up effective interventions.
As Nigerians prepare for the observance on Wednesday, 19 November, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation reiterates its commitment to ensuring safe, dignified sanitation for all citizens.
The Ministry also urges communities, individuals, and private partners to maintain and use sanitation facilities while supporting ongoing efforts.
World Toilet Day serves as a reminder that sanitation is not just about building toilets; it is about protecting health, preserving dignity, empowering communities, and securing a sustainable future for all Nigerians and Africans in a rapidly changing world.