Sanitation: FG Commissions Model Toilet Facility

The Federal Ministry of
Water Resources says it has commissioned a model for toilet facility to boost the nation’s sanitation coverage
The Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation Department,  Mr. Samuel Ome said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.
Ome said that the model was done after a survey was carried out on existing toilet facilities in strategic places across the country.
He said: “After carrying out surveys on the existing sanitation facilities in public places like motor packs, markets and transit ways for commuters and travellers, we found out that they were nothing to write home about.
“So, we came up with a standard design, architectural design that will go with it and an element of water that should go with it.
“So that the level of convenience, the level of hygiene and sanitation to be associated with such structure or facilities are high enough to meet what we considered as a national requirement on hygiene.’’
Ome said that the ministry would partner with the managers of markets and motor parks to introduce the facility in such places.
According to him, the ministry is also working on a programme that will involve girls and women in the management of the facility.
“For such systems like the motor parks, we have motor park managers; we have market masters, who manage markets.
“We are entering into discussion with them on how we will introduce such improved public facilities to be built there so that, they themselves can manage them.
“The ministry is participating in a government programme – Women and Girl Empowerment Programme, which we are doing with the Ministry and Women Affairs, Ministry of Finance and some others.
“To look at how to improve the lots of the people and for whom we want to use such facilities, so that women and girls can manage such facility and earn income from there,’’ he explained. Ome, who is also the Chairman, National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS), noted that sanitation could not be separated from hygiene.
He advised Nigerians to improve on the level of hygiene by imbibing the habit of washing their hands at critical times, especially after visiting the toilet.
“It is within your power as rational human beings to make that difference of knowing when you apply washing of hands during critical times.
“From the individual to household and to the community and when hygiene is maintained, the level of sanitation will go up and the right behaviour change will be adopted.’’
In addition, he called on transport companies to build toilets at strategic bus stops for their passengers across the country.
According to him, such effort will check the practice of open defecation and also improve the sanitary condition of the populace.
Ome also advised organisers of events, especially in cities, to always provide mobile toilets for their guests.