Minister of Environment wants states to reinstate monthly sanitation exercise to prevent diseases

Saturday, June 28, 2025 - As Nigeria prepares to commemorate the 2025 National Environmental Sanitation Day (NESD), the federal government has called on states that have not reinstated the monthly environmental sanitation exercise to do so without delay.

Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, issued the call during a media briefing ahead of the NESD, which is observed annually on June 28. This year’s theme is “Safe Sanitation and Hygiene for Disease Prevention.”

Lawal, represented by the Director of Pollution and Environmental Health at the ministry, Engr. Dr. Bahijjahtu Abubakae, stressed that the clean-up exercise is essential for preventing sanitation-related diseases and cultivating a collective sense of environmental responsibility.

“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,” he said.

Highlighting the health implications of poor sanitation, the minister said, “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.”

Lawal warned that inadequate sanitation contributes to the contamination of water sources, soil, and air, resulting in long-term environmental damage. He also noted that poor sanitation is responsible for a significant share of preventable communicable diseases, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria.

“Sanitation is a fundamental human right, and access to safe sanitation is essential for human dignity, health, and well-being,” he said. “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.”

Reaffirming the ministry’s dedication to improving sanitation and hygiene practices across Nigeria, Lawal said the Federal Ministry of Environment has undertaken several initiatives aimed at fulfilling its sanitation and hygiene mandates for the Nigerian populace.