Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, on Tuesday, expressed concern that Nigeria is annually losing three billion dollars due to open defecation and unsafe environmental practices.

The Minister said this at the National Safely Managed Sanitation Workshop in Abuja,expressing the urgency of the situation.

He emphasized that the nation cannot afford to sustain such substantial financial losses and highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to tripling efforts for sustainable and safely managed sanitation.

He said the ambitious goal is to achieve open defecation-free status by 2025.

Professor Utsev underscored the pivotal role of sustainable sanitation in the nation’s well-being, wealth, and economic growth.

Expressing worries about Nigeria’s progress towards the 2030 WASH agenda, he called for united strategies to ensure the attainment of safely managed sanitation services by 2025.

Stressing that safely managed sanitation is a right for all Nigerians, Professor Utsev reiterated the federal government’s dedication to enhancing existing efforts for a comprehensive and effective sanitation system.

In an opening address, Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, the Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation in the Ministry, highlighted that despite access to safely managed sanitation being a fundamental human right, millions, including Nigeria with a mere 18% national access, lack adequate facilities.

This deficiency poses severe consequences for public health, the environment, and overall well-being.

Mrs. Ugoh emphasized the workshop’s significance as a vital platform for exploring innovative strategies, sharing best practices, and fostering collaboration to advance the cause of safe and sustainable sanitation nationwide.