Nigeria loses N455 billion annually to poor sanitation: Sanitation Agency

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), has revealed that Nigeria loses N455 billion annually to poor sanitation.

The Executive Director, Dr Mohammed Dan-Hassan disclosed this during the flag off ceremony of the construction of public toilets in the Six Area Councils of the FCT.

Dan-Hassan explained that available reports revealed that 39.4 per cent of the FCT population are involved in open defecation.

The Director stated that open defecation remains a challenge that people don’t want to talk about but is a matter that was receiving not just national but global attention due to its significance in health and environmental concerns.

“Clean and safe toilets would ensure fundamental human dignity for millions,” he said.

Dan-Hassan said several actions have been taken to end open defecation which includes the establishment of the agency in November 2020, creation of WASH units in the Area Councils, setting-up of Ministerial committee for construction of public toilets, FCT declaration of state of emergency on water, sanitation and hygiene and launching of the FCT road map to end open defecation.