Environment Ministry Partners Stakeholders on Healthy Sanitation Practices In Lafia
The Federal Ministry of Environment, its Nasarawa State counterpart, and key stakeholders have launched a sanitation campaign in Lafia, urging residents to maintain cleanliness in order to prevent diseases in the area.
According to a statement issued by Ibrahim Haruna, Director, Information and Public Relations in the Ministry, the sensitization campaign which took place in Lafia, Nasarawa State, was part of the activities lined up to commemorate the 2025 National Environmental Sanitation Day (NESD).
The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Adam Kambari, who spearheaded the initiative at Lafia Modern Market and Ungwan Wajen Lalle, urged market women, traders, and residents to prioritize market cleanliness and environmental protection.
Represented by Director II, Pollution Control and Environmental Health ( PC&EH), Mrs. Omotunde Adeola, he stated that “cleanliness is next to godliness” and called on the women, in particular, to keep their surroundings clean, noting that “We cannot be productive, if we neglect environmental hygiene,”
Kambari highlighted that this year’s theme, *Safe Sanitation and Hygiene for Disease Prevention,*’ is particularly relevant, and emphasized stakeholders to sustain public sensitization efforts on sanitation practices in their communities.
The Commissioner, Nasarawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Margaret Itaki Elayo urged residents to keep their environment clean, stressing that good hygiene practices can significantly reduce the risk of diseases like cholera and malaria etc.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Hussaini Usman Babayayi, warned that enforcement teams will henceforth strictly enforce sanitation standards in markets and communities, ensuring compliance.
In separate remarks, Deputy Director of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), representing the Registrar/CEO, Nathaniel Omonayajo, highlighted the importance of sanitation, calling for an end to open defecation to ensure a healthier and more productive society.
On his part, the General Manager, Nasarawa State Environmental Protection Agency (NASEPA), Alhaji Yusuf Illiya Adela, advised residents to install toilet facilities in their homes, practice handwashing, and participate in the monthly sanitation exercise to prevent disease outbreaks.
The State’s ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Mr. Elias Napoleon also pleaded with women and children to prioritize cleanliness and spread the message to others in the community.
Dakaci of Angwan Wajen Lalle community in Lafia metropolis, Baba Saidu, expressed gratitude for the initiative but appealed for government assistance in addressing the persistent erosion problem in the area.
June 28th of every year is chosen to mark the National Environmental Sanitation Day, promoting environmental cleanliness and disease prevention.
To commemorate the 2025 edition, the Federal Ministry of Environment along with key partners organized a Ministerial Press briefing in Abuja, ahead of the main event held in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
