Declare state of emergency on open defecation, FG urged

An International nongovernmental organisation, Clean Up Nigeria (CUP), has urged governments at all levels to declare state of emergency on waste management and open defecation in the country.

The body disclosed that about 170 million Nigerians, roughly 90 per cent of the county’s population are living in dirty environments with dire consequences for the health of the people.

The group claimed that over 700 sanitation workers involved in waste evacuation die yearly as a result of poor waste management across the country.

The 2018 report, released by the body, a nongovernmental organization, rates Kogi, Osun and Nasarrawa states as the dirtiest states in the country, conversely with Akwa Ibom as the cleanness state in Nigeria.

Briefing the press in Abuja, the National Co-coordinator and Secretary of the 15 member National Technical Working Committee of CUP, Prince Ene Baba Owoh said that the study was conducted for one year from October 2017- October 2018 and made possible with support from its international affiliates and development partners with Clean-Up the World Australia and the International Council for Local environmental initiatives [ICELE] Canada..

Owoh said, ‘’As confirmed by our study, only three states and state capitals scored above 50 per cent and were considered clean’’.

Owoh stated that the study by CUN is the first and most comprehensive state of the nation’s cleanliness performances rating index ever carried out by any government, individual or organization in Nigeria to date.

He said the observation of the findings revealed that there has been a steady decline in the procurement of sanitation/waste management equipment by states generally and the local councils.

It called on government at all levels to set-up and enforce the regular clean-up of drains with renewed energy as 95 per cent of the states have been seriously neglected.