By Chioma Obinna

On this year’s World Toilet Day with the theme: “Toilets-A Place for Peace” Reckitt, makers of Harpic, has reiterated its commitment to promoting clean and hygienic toilets for all Nigerians.  

Stating that this year’s theme underscores the crucial role of sanitation in fostering health, dignity, and sustainable communities during it is event was marked by a gathering of stakeholders in Lagos and Abuja.

Through its Door-to-Door programme, the company has refurbished and maintained over 150 public toilet units, and continuously carries out toilet hygiene education reaching over 4 million Nigerians since 2017 as part of efforts to accelerate the progress in making Nigeria Open Defecation Free, paving the way for a cleaner, safer, and more peaceful Nigeria.

Reckitt, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, emphasised the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s sanitation challenges during the commemoration in Lagos. 

Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, praised Harpic’s contributions in the fight to preserve the environment, adding that the commitment aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6.2, which calls for equitable access to sanitation for all by 2030.

“When sanitation services are destroyed, damaged or disrupted, untreated human waste spreads in the environment, unleashing deadly diseases such as cholera. The act of Open Defecation in the State from statistics is about 3 per cent according to WASHNORM 2021 report. The Lagos State Bureau of Statistics put this figure at 8 per cent, therefore, our gathering here today is to proffer solutions to the sanitation in the State.”

In line with the Federal Government’s target of achieving an Open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2025 as stated in the Presidential Executive Order 009 of 2019, the Lagos State Government adopted the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign toflag off in the State in 2021. This Campaign has since been taken to the grassroots and has been launched in eleven Local Government Areas in Lagos State.

At the Abuja event, Harpic’s efforts were further recognised as the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, ably represented, and other top dignitaries were in attendance. 

Harpic has championed access to hygienic sanitation solutions at both state and federal levels and this year Lagos and Abuja served as rallying points for intensified efforts to address Nigeria’s sanitation challenges. Reckitt’s General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, Akbar Ali Shah, underscored the importance of inclusive partnerships.

“A clean and safe environment fosters productivity, lowers healthcare costs, and improves the quality of life. We applaud the Federal Government’s relaunch of the Clean Nigeria Strategy and reaffirm our commitment to this cause.”