An environmentalist, Ibrahim Salisu, has constructed an eco-friendly bamboo toilet and bathroom which can last for many years.
Salisu, who made this disclosure while speaking with reporters yesterday, said that the aim of constructing the bamboo toilet and bathroom was to assist in the reduction of open defecation at both the rural and urban centres due to the scarcity of such conveniences in most of the houses across the country.
According to him, the practice of open defecation brings with it serious health risks linked to deaths from diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid and other communicable diseases and infections.
He also described it as a risk factor for violence against women and girls, especially those residing in rented apartments, where women might need to leave home in the dark to find somewhere to defecate.
The environmentalist pointed out that embracing the construction of bamboo toilets and bathrooms would curtail the spread of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
He said that efforts had been made over the decades to reduce cases of open defecation in Nigeria, adding, however, that they failed due to lack of commitment and dedication by citizens.
“Bamboo toilet is the cheapest and it can last for many years due to its strength and adaptability to ecological challenges,” the environmentalist explained.
Ibrahim is said to be the first to construct a bamboo upstairs in Kaduna, which attracted many tourists from both within and outside the country.
In his contribution, a science climatologist, Dr. Piman Hoffman, who is also the Assistant Director, African Climate Reporters, lauded Ibrahim for the innovation.
He said that open defecation needs to be tackled to save millions of women, children and elderly ones against the spread of infectious diseases.
