Nigeria Needs N959bn To End Open Defecation — FG

The cost implication of making Nigeria open defecation free by 2025 is estimated at N959bn according to the national roadmap to end the menace, the Federal Government announced on Tuesday.

Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, announced this at the first public lecture on ‘Stop Open Defecation’, organised by the Faculty of Engineering, University of Abuja.

He said “The cost covers the hardware component of construction of household, institutional and public sanitation facilities, as well as the software component of mobilisation, advocacy and campaign.

“Households are expected to bear most of the cost, estimated at over N720bn.

“Construction of facilities in institutions and public places is estimated at N74bn, while the cost of implementing a national transformative campaign to end open defecation by 2025 is estimated at N159bn to be funded by federal and state governments.”

Adamu added, “The Federal Government is expected to make contribution of about N6bn annually from 2020 till 2025, which is to be sourced from budgetary allocations and development partners, who have shown keen interest and have been involved in shaping the Clean Nigeria Programme which will also leverage on donations, Corporate Social Responsibility funds, business promotions, etc.”

Adamu said that the National Water Supply and Sanitation Policy, approved in 2000, had been put in place to completely eradicate open defecation across the country.

According to him, the policy would help in the provision of sufficient potable water and adequate sanitation to all Nigerians in an affordable and sustainable way.