ABUJA: The NNPC Foundation Limited has reinforced its dedication to promoting global awareness and advocacy for enhanced sanitation policies as part of efforts to address the sanitation crisis. This initiative was highlighted by Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, Managing Director of NNPC Foundation Ltd., during the 2024 World Toilet Day commemoration at the Junior Secondary School in Peyi, Bwari Area Council, Abuja. Arukwe emphasized the importance of investing in sanitation infrastructure to secure cleaner water, healthier communities, and sustainable ecosystems.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, World Toilet Day, observed annually on November 19, seeks to raise awareness about the lack of access to safe toilets and sanitation faced by billions globally. This campaign urges action to confront the global sanitation crisis and aims to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-6, focusing on ‘Water and Sanitation for all by 2030’. The theme for this year, ‘Toilet, a Place for Peace’, highlights the significance of s
afe toilets as spaces for protection and progress.
Globally, 4.2 billion individuals live without safely managed sanitation, with approximately 673 million people practicing open defecation. Arukwe, represented by Dr. David Bala, Executive Director of Programme Development at NNPC Foundation Ltd., stated that aligning the foundation’s actions with SDG-6 would contribute to creating a world without exclusions. She noted that their initiatives concentrate on raising awareness, advocating for improved sanitation policies, and supporting the installation of clean and safe toilets in underprivileged areas.
Arukwe pointed out that 3.5 billion people currently lack access to safely managed sanitation, underscoring the magnitude of the global sanitation crisis, as noted by UN-Water in 2024. Additionally, according to UNICEF, around 48 million Nigerians engage in open defecation, and only 10 percent of the population has access to combined basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services. This deficiency significantly
contributes to disease spread, such as diarrhea, which claims the lives of over 70,000 Nigerian children under five annually.
Furthermore, Arukwe highlighted that inadequate sanitation disproportionately affects women and girls, exposing them to risks of harassment and violence in public spaces. She explained that insufficient sanitation facilities can disrupt learning for many girls, as they often miss school during menstruation due to the lack of hygienic facilities. A 2023 UNICEF report indicated that improving sanitation access could increase attendance rates for adolescent girls by 11 percent in low-income countries.
Statistics from the World Health Organization in 2023 reveal that 80 percent of wastewater from human activities returns to the ecosystem untreated, causing extensive environmental harm. Arukwe encouraged students and future leaders to share their knowledge with families and communities, advocate for better sanitation in schools and public spaces, and engage in conversations to normalize d
iscussions about toilets and hygiene. She urged collaboration to eradicate the global sanitation crisis.
Earlier, Mr. Bako Kumbam, the school principal, praised the foundation for the program, acknowledging its role in sustaining the campaign and promoting understanding of sanitation’s role in disease prevention and health improvement. Miss Cynthia Otanwo, Head Girl of the school, expressed gratitude for the enlightenment and sanitary etiquette education. Master Moses Ifeanyichukwu, Head Boy, emphasized the importance of cleanliness and urged the Federal Government to build more public toilets to prevent open defecation and avert diseases.