FG Commits to Safe Sanitation and Hygiene, Urges Adoption of Healthy Practices to Prevent Diseases
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to safe sanitation and hygiene, urging the adoption of proper hygiene practices, safe waste disposal, and effective sanitation facility management to safeguard health and prevent disease outbreaks.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, at a press briefing in Abuja to commemorate the 2025 National Environmental Sanitation Day, stated that poor environmental sanitation contributes significantly to the prevalence of preventable communicable diseases, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria.
According to him, “the theme: Safe Sanitation and Hygiene for Disease Prevention underscores the critical role that safe and hygienic practices play in preventing the spread of diseases, making it a more nuanced and impactful approach”
The Minister, represented by the Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Dr Bahijjahtu Abubakar, emphasized that poor environmental sanitation exacerbates vector-borne diseases like malaria, Lassa fever, and dengue fever by providing breeding grounds for disease vectors such as rats and mosquitoes.
He disclosed that the emergence of diseases like COVID-19, cholera, monkeypox, and dengue fever has shown that access to sanitation and hygiene is a fundamental human right, safeguarding public health and dignity, and an essential need for disease prevention and control.
Lawal noted that sanitation and hygiene-related diseases affect vulnerable populations, particularly children under five, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, adding that a large number of children die annually from these diseases, with over 3.5 million suffering from diarrheal diseases in Nigeria.
The Minister who described sanitation as a fundamental human right, emphasized that the Commemoration of the Day in Nigeria was instituted in June 2005 by Mr. President at the launch of the National Environmental Sanitation Policy when he declared 28th June of every year as National Environmental Sanitation Day (NESD).
Lawal highlighted that sanitation is a fundamental human right, essential for human dignity, health, and well-being, adding however that many communities in the country still lack access to basic sanitation facilities, exposing them to waterborne diseases and other health risks.
He informed that key highlights of the Federal Government’s commitment to a safe environment for disease prevention include:
Reviewing and updating the 2005 National Environmental Sanitation Policy to address current sanitation challenges, Approval of the National Solid Waste Management Policy to tackle antimicrobial resistance,Construction of public toilets nationwide to eliminate open defecation, Ongoing awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the risks of open defecation.
Emphasizing that sanitation and hygiene are collective responsibilities, he urged Development Partners, NGOs, the private sector, media, and individuals to collaborate in promoting a culture of cleanliness and good hygiene practices.
Earlier, the Director, Pollution Control, Mrs. Omotunde Abiola noted the crucial role of sanitation in disease control, emphasizing its impact on public health.
She urged Nigerians to leverage government initiatives to combat preventable communicable diseases in the country.
Also speaking, the National Technical Officer, Public Health and Environment, WHO Nigeria, Dr. Edwin Isotu expressed the Organization’s desire to support the institutionalisation of Sanitation, Safety, Planning (SSP) in five States of the Federation, thus reaching over 7.5million people through hygiene promotion and training 120 stakeholders on WHO sanitation guidelines
“Let today not just be a commemoration, but a recommitment – to invest, reform, and act. Whether at the policy table or community level, we each have a role in building a cleaner, healthier Nigeria.” He said
The National Environmental Sanitation Day, commemorated annually on June 28th, serves as a national advocacy and sensitization platform to raise awareness about the crucial role of sanitation and hygiene in disease prevention, saving lives, and ensuring quality sanitation services, ultimately contributing to the achievement of SDGs 3 and 6 by 2030.
