71% of the Nigerian population, about 130 million people in Nigeria do not have access to safe and private toilets, this amount to two-thirds of the population with 25% (about 46 million) practising open defecation. 60,000 Children under the age of five years die annually from diarrhoea caused by poor sanitation, (WaterAid Nigeria). Nigeria is the worst country in Africa in terms of urban sanitation, Nigeria is ranked the third most regressive countries in the world on sanitation. The rural areas are worse hit as there are no toilet facilities, open defecation is the order of the day. Open defecation is responsible for airborne diseases, which spread fast and sometimes lead to an endemic situation. The impact on human health as a result of this failure is enormous. Diarrheal infections, caused overwhelmingly by poor sanitation and unsafe water, remains one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide according to the WHO, killing 1.5 million people in 2012

Beyond the health risk poor sanitation posed, lack of access to safe, private toilets have made women suffer dignity and vulnerable to rape. It is difficult for women, especially young women, to manage their menstruation safely and with dignity. At Emeraid Development Initiative, we consider access to safe, private toilets and clean drinking water as a human right. Safe toilets and clean drinking water have a direct impact on good health, improved quality of life, and the dignity of human beings. Emeraid Development Initiative, in partnership with selected communities, is supporting the rural families to have access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. We are dedicating 5% of our annual surplus to support safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure.