Open Defecation:A Strain On Climate Change Mitigation

Since the declaration of Abuja as Federal Capital Territory in 1991 there have been Structure and standard plan laid down in the capital city
To ensure all basic amenities that befits a city of power are adequately allotted without any preferential treatment .

But thirty-one years after the transfer of capital city from Lagos to Abuja, open defecation is a major menace that is about to submerged major public places that are suppose to be of good sites in Abuja betraying the city as federal capital. Flyovers, pedestrian bridges and highways are not spare in the indiscriminate dumping of faeces, most people caught in the act at times throw caution in the air not mind the havoc and effects on their environment.

With the master-plan of FCT one would of expects that non-availability of public toilet should be the least problems it should be dealing with. Living without access to a decent toilet have been a major discourse that has direct impact on the health, education and livelihoods of lots of people living in Lugbe community, most especially Women and Children – are more affected by poor or non-existent of sanitation facilities.

With the impact of climate change already felt across Africa and Abuja not an exception, the effect of open defecation have put the water bodies in various sites of open defecation in difficult shape, which also put sanitation systems in the community under strain and severe effects. Despite various publicity through workshops and seminars held in curbing open defecation in Abuja, little or no effect has been felt, no Sanitation plans been created to check into account climate change emergencies which might put neighbouring communities at risk of illness and death.

Umar, a resident at Lugbe zone 4 in Abuja,who preferred anonymity said since his income from the sales of used clothes dwindled after eased of covid19 lockdown he has no option than to vacate the cozy one-bedroom flat he once occupied to for a makeshift shed close to a defecation site, which unknown to him is an invitation to various degree of diseases.

The health risks associated with open defecation are most researched in context and they are infectious diseases which are linked with, diarrhoea, typhoid, cholera, and viral infections. Open defecation can lead to increase vulnerability to violence such as verbal, physical and sexual, affecting women physically and psychologically. Lack of household toileting facilities forces many women to travel long distances from their

The Federal Capital Territory authority who is saddle with the administrative status of the capital city should please take charge of the disintegrating shape of sanitation at various communities that exist in Lugbe, Airport road in Abuja.

Government and its entities can put a sanitation system that will encompassed the people imagination and save the poor masses of another impending outbreak, most especially the women who are at the fore-front of lack of household toileting facilities forces many women to travel long distances from their house to find private open places to defecate, manage their menstrual necessities which makes them vulnerable to these varying forms of violence.