World Toilet Day may sound light-hearted, but its message is anything to play around with. Since the United Nations (UN) officially adopted the observance on 19 November 2013, the day has become a global reminder of the critical link between sanitation, public health, and human dignity.
In wealthier countries, the convenience of a nearby toilet is almost invisible, a simple part of daily life. But for many communities around the world, that convenience is still a luxury. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 3.4 billion people lack access to safe sanitation. Within that number, more than 350 million individuals still resort to relieving themselves in open spaces: streets, farmlands, gutters, bushes, or water bodies, because there are no usable facilities.
This year’s World Toilet Day, themed “We’ll Always Need the Toilet,” calls for deeper reflection. A toilet is more than a fixture; it is a mirror of a society’s infrastructure, its behaviour, its values, and its commitment to protecting lives.
In countries like Nigeria, dealing with rapid population growth and the pressures of climate change, the story of sanitation is layered and urgent.
A properly functioning toilet is a symbol of progress. It stops the spread of deadly diseases, safeguards the environment, and protects the dignity of every person who uses it. Without adequate sanitation services, sustainable development simply cannot take root.
Contaminated water spreads diarrhoeal diseases that claim the lives of more than 1,000 children every day. Untreated waste seeps into ecosystems, fuels greenhouse gas emissions, and undermines public health. For millions of women and girls, the absence of a safe toilet leads to lost school hours, reduced productivity, and increased vulnerability.
The last decade has seen significant progress: about 1.2 billion people have gained access to improved sanitation. Yet billions remain exposed , often because of poverty, geography, disability, or conflict. Climate change and ageing infrastructure are placing even greater strain on sanitation systems across the globe.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres reminds us of the urgency of the moment. He notes that World Toilet Day should inspire accelerated efforts to deliver toilets that are accessible, climate-resilient, low-emission, and adequately funded.
In Nigeria, millions still live without reliable toilets, from rural villages and riverine settlements to underserved parts of major urban centres. Public toilets, where available, are frequently dilapidated, unsafe, or unaffordable. When the nearest clean option is kilometres away, many people are forced to turn the environment into a substitute, with serious consequences for public health and the planet.
A toilet might appear ordinary, but it represents something extraordinary: life, safety, equality, and opportunity. Access to one is not just a convenience. It is a fundamental right and for many, a matter of survival.
