The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that an estimated $125 million would be required to construct 2.5 million latrines in Ebonyi State to eliminate open defecation — a figure that has sparked both concern and debate.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to Governor Francis Nwifuru in Abakaliki, UNICEF’s Nigeria Chief of Field Service, Ms Judith Leveillee, disclosed that more than 2.5 million residents in Ebonyi reportedly defecate in the open daily, exposing communities to preventable diseases such as cholera and acute watery diarrhoea.
According to her, the sanitation crisis remains a major public health threat, particularly in Izzi, Ohaukwu, and Ebonyi Local Government Areas, where cholera outbreaks have been recorded in the past.
“This does not have to be the reality,” Leveillee said. “Other states have shown that open defecation can be eliminated with the right strategies. Ebonyi can do the same and even lead Nigeria by becoming an open-defecation-free state.”
She also raised concerns about poor exclusive breastfeeding practices and called for stronger public enlightenment campaigns targeting mothers and caregivers.
A Costly Solution or a Narrow Lens?
While the scale of the sanitation problem is not in doubt, questions are emerging around whether focusing heavily on latrine construction — at a projected cost of $125 million — is the most effective or sustainable pathway to ending open defecation in the state.
UNICEF suggested that if a basic latrine costs about ₦75,000, the project could become a multi-million-dollar opportunity for small business owners.
However, critics argue that infrastructure alone does not automatically change long-standing behavioural practices, especially in rural communities.
Public health experts note that several sanitation programmes across Nigeria have failed in the past due to poor maintenance, lack of community ownership, weak monitoring, and minimal behavioural change communication.
“There is a risk of building millions of toilets that are either unused or poorly maintained if community engagement, education, and enforcement are not prioritised,” a sanitation advocate told this reporter.
Behaviour Change vs Brick-and-Mortar
Experts argue that Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approaches — which focus on behaviour change, local accountability, and cultural realities — have delivered better long-term results in some Nigerian states than capital-heavy construction projects.
They question whether Ebonyi’s challenge is purely a lack of toilets, or a deeper issue involving poverty, water access, education, and social norms.
“How much of the $125 million is earmarked for community mobilisation, hygiene education, monitoring, and sustainability?” one policy analyst asked. “Without these, the state risks treating symptoms rather than causes.”
Government Response
Responding, Governor Francis Nwifuru said his administration is committed to ending open defecation, malnutrition, and poor immunisation coverage in the state.
“We are aware of the health implications of open defecation and erratic immunisation. Concrete steps must be taken to address them,” the governor said.
He disclosed that plans are underway to construct toilets in markets, schools, and other public spaces, while also cautioning development partners to ensure that medical supplies brought into the state are not close to expiration.
The Bigger Question
As Ebonyi moves toward tackling its sanitation crisis, the pressing question remains:
Will a $125 million construction-driven approach deliver lasting change, or should greater emphasis be placed on community behaviour, local accountability, and low-cost, scalable sanitation models?
For many residents, the answer may determine whether open defecation truly becomes a thing of the past — or merely another expensive development promise.
