FG asks states to reinstate monthly sanitation exercise to prevent diseases

As Nigeria prepares to mark the 2025 National Environmental Sanitation Day (NESD), the federal government has urged states that have not yet reinstated the monthly environmental sanitation (clean-up) exercise to do so.

Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, made the call during a briefing on the 2025 National Environmental Sanitation Day commemoration with the theme: “Safe Sanitation and Hygiene for Disease Prevention”.

He said the exercise is crucial in preventing sanitation-related diseases and fostering a sense of community responsibility.

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The National Environmental Sanitation Day is usually marked every 28th June to raise awareness on issues of sanitation.

The minister represented by the Director Pollution and Environmental Health, at the ministry, Engr Dr Bahijjahtu Abubakae, said this year’s theme goes a step further than business as usual by emphasising not just the provision of sanitation facilities, but also the importance of managing them safely to prevent disease.

Lawal said sanitation related diseases cause morbidity and deaths each year, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

“A large number of children die every year due to sanitation and hygiene related diseases, and more than 3.5 million children suffer from diarrheal diseases in Nigeria. Children who are less than five years old are more prone to such diseases. These diseases can have significant economic impacts on individuals, families, and communities, including lost productivity, medical expenses, and reduced economic opportunities.”

He further said poor sanitation can also lead to contamination of water sources, soil, and air, leading to long-term environmental degradation.

The minister also noted that poor environmental sanitation is responsible for occurrence of significant percentage of preventable communicable diseases particularly in developing countries including Nigeria.

The minister said Sanitation is a fundamental human right, and access to safe sanitation is essential for human dignity, health, and well-being but unfortunately, many communities in the country still lack access to basic sanitation facilities, putting them at risk of waterborne diseases and other health hazards.

While emphasizing the Ministry commitment to improving sanitation and hygiene practices across the country, the minister said the Federal Ministry of Environment has made several efforts towards the delivery of sanitation and hygiene mandates to the Nigerian citizenry.