Nigeria's Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, has revealed that the country needs a staggering 11.6 million additional toilets to achieve its open defecation free (ODF) target by 2030. This daunting task requires not only a significant increase in toilet infrastructure but also a concerted effort to raise awareness and encourage consistent use of these facilities.

According to Utsev, Nigeria requires an annual budget of N10 billion to reach the ODF target, but only half of this amount has been allocated. This funding shortfall underscores the significant challenges ahead in achieving the 2030 target.

Utsev emphasized that the challenge goes beyond just building toilets, highlighting the need to raise awareness and encourage consistent use of these facilities. To address this, the government plans to elevate the campaign to a higher level, with the Vice President set to lead the relaunch of the strategy in a more impactful way.

The sheer scale of the task ahead is daunting, but with a concerted effort from the government, civil society, and the private sector, Nigeria can make significant progress towards achieving its ODF target by 2030.