Campaign to build eco toilets in rural Nigeria

We hope this report finds you all in good health. Luckily here in Nigeria all of our team are doing well too, and we have started to get back to our work to improve our community. It feels like yesterday, precisely December 1st, 2020 we started a campaign to build eco toilets in rural communities in Nigeria. We would like to thank all donors for their generous contributions to our campaign.

Since the end of the first phase of the campaign (31st of December 2021), we have focussed on re estimating the costs of the toilets due to inflation, selecting local communities to situate the projects, securing partnerships with local NGOs to provide support with land and labour costs of excavation and commenced the construction of two pilot toilets.

The costs of the toilets have risen astronomically since the fundraising event. The table below shows the variation in costs between the estimates and the current cost of material and resources to build the toilets. 

Foundation, Latrine Pit Digging and Concrete work $90 = $310

Iron Reinforcement $25 = $45

Block work and plastering $80 = $72

Roofing material and installation $40 = $83

Latrine $30 = $15

Doors $30 = $15

Miscellaneous $112

Total $295 = $652

Future donations to this project will be used to cover the costs of the materials and resources to continue building our eco toilets. Apart from the benefits of reducing open defecation, these eco toilets will eliminate the need for energy dependent water flushing systems (having 0% environmental impact). Additionally, the community led total sanitation program will lead to sustainable maintenance of these built toilets, and also help in reducing the spread of contagious diseases associated with open defecation like diarrhoea and intestinal worm infections, cholera, and typhoid.