179m Nigerians live in unclean environments—reports 

Stone 2024 report has said that 179 million Nigerians, about 87% of the population, are living in unhygienic and unclean environments. The findings were presented at the ‘STONE 2024 Unplugged’ event organized by Clean-Up Nigeria in Abuja. In a statement reaching Vanguard on Friday, the National Coordinator of Clean-Up Nigeria, Prince Ene Baba Owoh, Jr., highlighted the troubling statistics, shedding light on the ongoing sanitation and waste management challenges across the country. The report, which assesses the cleanliness of states through the Cleanliness Performance Index, revealed that only a few states have made noticeable improvements in waste management and cleanliness.
Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Lagos, and a few others emerged as regional champions in the fight for cleaner environments. However, the majority of Nigerian states still grapple with severe environmental issues. Despite a slight reduction in open defecation from 24% to 20%, the sanitation crisis remains pervasive.  The report shows that 28 out of 37 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), continue to be classified as unclean.  Waste recycling efforts have also sharply declined, falling from 26% in 2023 to 19% in 2024, with rising poverty levels contributing to this downward trend. While a few states, such as Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Abia, and Lagos, reported a 4% improvement in waste management equipment procurement, the overall situation underscores the need for greater government investment and more robust waste management infrastructure. 
The report further revealed a worrying decline in the health and safety of sanitation workers, with their health rating dropping from 31% in 2023 to 28% in 2024. This emphasizes the increasing challenges sanitation workers face due to inadequate support and poor working conditions. The organization urged state governments and citizens to take more responsibility for cleanliness and waste management. The organization also called for stronger policies, increased funding, and improved infrastructure to address the growing sanitation crisis and enhance the health and well-being of Nigerians.