By Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

Akwa Ibom State has again in 2022 emerged the cleanest state in Nigeria, with Ebonyi State coming second.

In a study by Clean-Up Nigeria, less than three states scored above 40 per cent when compared to 2021 where three states (Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Bauchi states scored above 40 per cent).

Announcing the result, yesterday, in Abuja, the National Co-ordinator, Clean-Up Nigeria, Prince Ene Baba Owoh regretted that funding by states/local governments for waste management services has reduced drastically when compared to the increased services offered.

“This equally calls for serious incremental review on the part of governments at all levels” he said.

According to Owoh, the incidence and prevalence of sanitation-related diseases has increased from 32 per cent to 51 per cent in Nigeria. This intake was elevated to 51.2 per cent more by the flood disaster in the last quarter of 2022.

“Inadequate sanitation/hygiene practices of the people in over 35 states and the FCT was made worse by flood that effected most communities as people were made to live in unhabitable situation to survive” the co-ordinator, explained, adding that the practice of open defecation in all the 36 states of the federation and FCT has reduced from 34 per cent in 2021 to 28 per cent in 2022.

” Nigeria, nevertheless, still remains the number one country in the world that leads in open defecation since 2018 to 2022 (back to back).

Less than 10 per cent compared to 2 per cent in 2021 improvement was recorded in the procurement of waste management equipment by less than 3 states in the country in 2022″ he noted.

The study which was powered by international organisations, further disclosed that the informal sector operators of waste recycling and re-use enterprises recorded higher patronage, as their activities increased from 50 per cent in 2021 to 31 per cent in 2022.