Nasarawa deploys mobile toilets to end open defecation

Detailed summary

The Nasarawa State Government has deployed mobile toilets across its 13 LGAs to end open defecation, a practice described as a public health emergency. Read More:…

The Nasarawa State Government has introduced mobile toilets, which are to be distributed to specific locations across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state in order to tackle the surge of open defecation.

The state government declared zero tolerance for open defecation, describing the practice as not only an embarrassment, but as a severe public health emergency.

The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Environment, Solid Minerals and Mining, Margaret Elayo, stated this on Thursday during a media briefing ahead of the World Toilet Day, slated for November 19, 2026.

Elayo emphasised that sanitation was a top priority under the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule, and therefore the issue of open defecation will not be encouraged.

​Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the Commissioner noted that over 3.5 billion people worldwide still lack safe environments for managing sanitation.

She said that in Nigeria, millions of people continue to practice open defecation, which directly causes preventable waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea, leading to the annual deaths of thousands of children.

The Commissioner outlined core objectives under Governor Sule’s leadership to end open defecation, collaborating closely with local governments, traditional rulers, and community leaders to progressively declare communities open defecation-free.

​”Accessible Sanitation for All, ​Environmental and Water Protection, promoting the construction of clean, safe public toilets across markets, motor parks, schools, and health centres, with specific design considerations for women, children, and persons with disabilities,” she said.

According to her, the toilet was built as a protected river and every maintained toilet has prevented disease.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Punch. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.