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Executive Order 009: Nigeria’s open defecation problem requires policy action [Pulse Contributor's Opinion]
4 years ago

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___8398107___2018___5___19___18___open-
defecation

<br>

According to United Nations Children Fund
(UNICEF) figures, about 46 million Nigerians
practice open defecation. This statistics puts
Nigeria second after India in the world ranking of
countries with such unhealthy practice. UNICEF’s
survey found out that only 11 of the 774 local
government areas in Nigeria are free from open
defecation. This is indeed not a good rating for
the giant of Africa.
Nigeria clearly has an open defecation problem that
needs urgent attention. President Muhammadu
Buhari in November 2019 signed the ‘ Executive
Order 009 to End Open Defecation in Nigeria by
2025’ towards ending open defecation. Executive
Order 009 empowers the Federal Ministry of Water
resources to implement this order, acting on behalf
of the president, by ensuring that all public places
like schools, markets, hotels, and fuel stations,
places of worship, hospitals and offices have
accessible toilets and latrines within their premises.
Open defecation is a problem that requires
government to not just formulate policies but also
ensure the implementation of such policies. Also
beyond policy formulation, the government must
create an enabling environment for the private
sector to come in. Private companies can build
toilet facilities for public institutions and collect
affordable fees from people who make use of them.
Another measure that will aid the drive to end open
defecation is to fully enforce the ban on
consumption of hard drugs because most drug
addicts practice open defecation. Furthermore,
Nigeria’s National Assembly should make laws with
adequate punishment for open defecation as this
will serve as a deterrent.
My first personal experience with open defecation
was came when I was posted to Ekiti for my
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). My place of
primary assignment was Otun-Ekiti in Moba LGA of
the state. I was also the corps member's liaison
officer for the LGA. It was not long before I
discovered that many residents of the community
defecated in nylon bags which they throw into
gutters. Others defecated in nearby bushes. One
could hardly breathe at the local council’s largest
market (Odo Oja), which played host to traders from
Ilorin and Ibadan, because of the stench coming out
from the bushes surrounding the market which had
no functional toilet facility.<a>

Recognizing the need to solve the immediate
problem of my host community, I decided to build
a toilet facility at the market. With hope that the
project will reduce open defecation in the
community, I reached out to the stakeholders. The
Oore of Moba land, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo,
Ilufemiloye 1, Oore of Otun-Ekiti and Permanent
Chairman of council of Obas and chiefs in Moba
LGA provided financial, moral support and gave
royal blessings towards the execution of the
project. I also got support from The Moba
Legislative Assembly and the local government
NYSC Inspector.</a>
The 2025 deadline for ending open defecation in
Nigeria remains sacrosanct and we must all join
hands together to end the scourge. I have
contributed my quota. You should take action too.
-----<br>
Pulse Contributors is an initiative to highlight diverse
journalistic voices. Pulse Contributors do not
represent the company Pulse and contribute on their
own behalf.
-----<br>
About the author: Nwokedi Chiemezuo Emmanuel is
a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member
serving in Otun, Ekiti State. He is the corps
members' liaison officer for Moba local government
area (LGA) of the state.

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