Clean-up Nigeria (CUN), a Non- Governmental Organisation, has called on all stakeholders to imbibe good sanitation practices in order to increase life expectancy.
Mr Ene Baba-Owoh, National Co-coordinator, CUN, spoke on Wednesday in Abuja shortly after the public presentation on State of the Nigeria Environment, Stone Pro -Max 2023 in Akwa Ibom.
Stone Pro is a five year-project circus review of the Nigerian environment from 2018 to 2022.
“We recommend that the government at all levels, individuals and communities, as a matter of urgency, be encouraged in their best interest to step up their knowledge, attitude and practice of hygiene and sanitation.
“This will improve their living conditions in order to increase their average life expectancy in Nigeria.
“Let’s note that in 2018, life expectancy in Nigeria was 44 years and presently it has dropped to 40 years due to multiple factors.
“We equally urge Nigerians, among other things, to embrace strong personal hygiene and good sanitation habits and to dispose of their waste at the right places.’’
Baba- Owoh recommended that the funds allocated for sanitation and waste management be stepped up by at least 200 per cent by states, local government councils based on the present value of the naira.
“Employers of labour should improve the living condition and wages of sanitation workers; in view of the unsanitary conditions that they are exposed to, they should be equipped with (PPE) personal protection equipment and given proper Medicare.
“In 2018, sanitation workers living condition stood at 22 per cent, and 26 per cent in 2023.
“The informal sector engaged in waste recycling and reuse industry stood at 31 per cent in 2018 and 37 per cent in 2023.’’
According to him, since 2018 to 2023, the dangers of open defecation has gradually reduced from 32 per cent in 2018 to 24 per cent in 2023 which can be attributed to the federal and states intensive campaign in addition to partnership considerations with NGO’s and private sectors nationwide.
“Please be reminded that CUN remains a front line International NGO with social and economic consultative status with the UN since 1994.
“It is worthy of note that cleanliness performance index ratings of all states/towns in Nigeria is an Integral aspect of the annual state of the Nigeria environment (Stone) study report held in conjunction with our International project partners.’’
Baba-Owoh commended the government and people of Akwa Ibom for emerging the five times overall cleanest state in Nigeria under the five- year project review circus in Nigeria, tagged STONE Pro Max 2023.
He noted that the state merged with a cumulative score of 72 per cent while the second and third positions were Ebonyi with 50 per cent and FCT with 47 per cent respectively.
“We, in Nigeria, need practical actions on environmental matters to drive home the processes of the just concluded COP28 and more.
“We remain grateful to them for the endless support.
“Our gratitude therefore goes to the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), Canada, keep America Beautiful (KAB) USA; DSZ, Germany, SUEZ Foundation, France and Clean-Up the world, Australia,” he said.
