Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to safe drinking water and adequate treatment and disposal of human waste and sewage (Oxford Dictionaries, n.d.). Nigeria is located in West Africa and has the largest population of approximately 200 million in Africa (UNDP, 2019). Nigeria has a Human Development Index of 0.534, which ranks the country as 158th in the world (UNDP, 2019). The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and having a decent standard of living (UNDP, 2019). HDI is an important tool in assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone (UNDP, 2019). Although it is important to note that HDI does not take into consideration other fundamental aspects of human development, and hence does not reflect inequalities within a country or the level of empowerment. These two aspects, inequalities and empowerment are vital when it comes to sanitation and its consequences. This essay argues
that lack of access to sanitation disproportionately impacts women and girls, hindering the ability of countries to develop. In 2010, the UN General Assembly recognized access to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right, and called for international efforts to help countries to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation (WHO, n.d.). This provision of water and sanitation has not been achieved in Nigeria, in fact access to sanitation is declining due to rapid population growth. To understand how the lack of sanitation affects Nigeria, and in particular females, this essay will firstly focus on the prevalence of diseases associated with unsanitary conditions. Furthermore, it will explore the consequences lack of sanitation has on the level of education achieved in Nigeria. Additionally, the essay will display how discrimination and violence towards women and girls is motivated by lack of sanitation. Finally, how these circumstances hinder the ability of Nigeria to flourish and develop.