Suleiman Adamu, the Minister of Water Resources disclosed this while presenting certificates to 14 local governments declared free from open defecation in Jigawa State.

The minister said Nigeria needs to do more to eliminate open defecation and achieve 100% access to sanitation and hygiene in the country.

He said the Ministry is strongly committed to collaborative efforts to address the problem.

“The rollout of the partnership for expanding water sanitation and hygiene program, presidential launch of the National action plan, declaration of state of emergency in the sector, implementation of the clean Nigeria use the toilet campaign and executive order Number 9 are some of the Sector initiatives to address the situation” Adamu said.

The Minister however noted that to achieve the national target of ending open defecation in Nigeria by 2025, Nigeria must ensure that households are mobilized to provide their sanitation facilities.

Also, he said relevant institutions and private sectors should provide sanitation facilities in public places.

“To end open defecation it requires contribution and commitment from everyone, Governments at all levels, CSOs, private sectors and development partners” the minister said.

He said Jigawa State is the first state in the country to have fourteen local Governments that are free from open defecation.

Marylou Ward and her husband were sitting in their Port Charlotte home as a thunderstorm rolled through on Sunday when she said she heard a “boom” that was “the loudest noise I ever heard.”

“We smelled smoke and I looked outside,” Ward told WINK News. “It was the smoke from the septic tank that was coming.”

When she went into her bathroom, she found our that the toilet was now in bits of pieces. A plumber from A-1 Affordable Plumbing Inc. told the couple the lightning strike ignited methane gas that built up in the pipes and septic tanks. Methane is typically emitted during the breakdown of sewage in waste systems.

“The toilet exploded in homeowners master bathroom sending porcelain airborne like a missile (the porcelain penetrated into wall). Most likely all sewer piping will need to be replaced and septic tank,” a plumber posted to Facebook.

“Luckily no one was hurt! Scheduling a camera inspection this week to see how much sanitary pipe needs to be replaced!!”

Besides her toilet being destroyed, Ward said her septic tank and indoor plumbing were also wrecked. The blast also broke a window in the couple’s master bedroom and destroyed yard decorations. No one was hurt during the incident, but Ward said it made her feel lucky.

“I’m just glad none of us were on the toilet,” she told WINK News. “That’s the main thing.”

In 2018 the Sunshine State had the highest density of lightning strikes, according to environmental measurement specialist Vaisala released its Annual Lightning Report. Florida had the highest average of negative ground-to-cloud flasher per square mile, with 24, according to the study.

Lighting typically strikes tall objects such as trees and skyscrapers because their tops are closer to the base of the storm cloud, according to The National Severe Storms Laboratory.