Commercial pit toilet operators in Bauchi say they are making brisk business as the town keeps expanding, giving no space for open defecation.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Saturday that although the stereotype of their trade as being undignified still persisted, they were “absorbing the stigma and making money quietly.”
Some of them said that whereas most petty businesses had become saturated with practitioners, they still maintained a reasonable level of monopoly as a number of people were shy to be seen as ‘depending on toilets’ to feed themselves.
One of the operators, Malam Umar Dahiru, said that the business was flourishing as customers often overwhelmed them.
“There are times when people queue, waiting for their turn, depending on the location of the toilet.
“If the toilets are located in markets, motor parks or other business areas full of activities, you are sure of making money daily.
“In fact, most of us in the business run ‘shift’ because there are customers from 5am to 10 pm every day,” he said.
Mr Dahiru, another operator, said that he closed from ‘work’ at about 7pm and the least he generated daily, was N3, 000.
“I open my toilets to customers from 6am to 7pm and the least I generate when there is no enough patronage is N3, 000.
“Those who close an hour or two after me can make up to N5, 000,” he revealed.
According to him, the commercial pit toilet trade can create jobs for the teaming population of unemployed youth, but that they (youth) do not want to be associated with the business for obvious reasons.
Mr Ibrahim Adamu, also owner of public convenient, said that he combined both pit toilet and bathroom to make huge returns.
“I charge N50 for the use of bathroom and N30 for the toilet. On a daily basis, I make nothing less than N6000,” he said.
NAN also spoke with some customers, who all agreed that the commercial toilet operators were, not only providing essential service, but also protecting the environment against abuse through open defecation.
Miss Hafsat Ibrahim, a customer, told NAN that but for one commercial pit toilet located at a motor park in the heart of Bauchi, she would have defecated in her pant some time ago.
“I was to travel somewhere when I suddenly developed running stomach and had to raise alarm.
“The motor park officials rushed me to the toilet where I almost emptied my stomach; you can imagine the embarrassment if there was no toilet there,” she stated.
She said that the public convenience had assisted greatly in reducing open defecation, especially in market places.
Another customer, Mr Inuwa Ali, said that the commercial public conveniences were being maintained properly by owners as they had become silent business with great income. (NAN)