- Lawal urges schools, markets, workplaces to install hygiene facilities, warns poor sanitation fuels preventable diseases
The Federal Government has called for a nationwide handwashing campaign to curb the spread of cholera, diphtheria and other infectious diseases, warning that poor hygiene practices and inadequate access to clean water continue to expose Nigerians to preventable illnesses.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said the fight against infectious diseases must go beyond hospitals and medicines to embrace preventive measures, particularly regular handwashing with soap and clean running water in homes, schools, markets, workplaces and healthcare facilities.
Lawal made the call on Monday in Abuja during the 2026 Global Handwashing Day commemoration, stressing that hand hygiene remained one of the simplest, most affordable and effective ways to protect public health.
The minister, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Salisu Usman, spoke at Police Day Secondary School, Abuja, during the event organised in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Nestlé Nigeria Plc.
The commemoration was held under the theme, “Be a Handwashing Hero.”
According to Lawal, proper handwashing with soap and clean running water can significantly reduce the transmission of cholera, typhoid fever, diphtheria and other communicable diseases.
He cited global health estimates indicating that handwashing with soap can reduce the risk of diarrhoeal diseases by up to 50 per cent and respiratory infections by nearly 25 per cent.
However, the minister warned that awareness campaigns alone would achieve limited results without adequate access to clean water, sanitation facilities and functional handwashing stations.
He therefore called on federal, state and local governments, private-sector organisations, civil society groups, traditional institutions, religious leaders and development partners to strengthen collaboration in expanding access to hygiene facilities and promoting lasting behavioural change.
Lawal urged schools, healthcare centres, markets and workplaces to install accessible and properly maintained handwashing stations, while encouraging parents, teachers and community leaders to make hygiene education a continuous responsibility.
He said the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Environment and other relevant ministries, departments and agencies, remained committed to advancing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) policies and programmes under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister also linked improved hygiene practices to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3, which focuses on good health and well-being, and Goal 6, which seeks to ensure access to clean water and sanitation.
Addressing concerns over water scarcity, Lawal advocated the adoption of affordable, water-efficient handwashing technologies, including tippy taps, which dispense small quantities of water and are suitable for communities with limited water supplies.
He stressed that hygiene promotion must be accompanied by responsible water management, particularly amid climate change and drought, to ensure that public health interventions did not intensify pressure on already scarce water resources.
The minister also challenged young Nigerians to deploy their creativity, digital skills, school clubs and social media platforms to promote handwashing among their peers, families and communities.
He said early exposure to proper hygiene practices would help children develop healthy habits that could continue into adulthood, adding that schools that prioritised handwashing could reduce preventable illnesses, improve attendance and minimise disruptions to learning.
Lawal urged Nigerians to wash their hands regularly, particularly before preparing or eating food, after using the toilet, after handling waste and following contact with other people and animals.
He said consistent hand hygiene could reduce the spread of infections, ease pressure on healthcare facilities, improve productivity and contribute to healthier communities.
The minister commended the IFRC, Nestlé Nigeria Plc and Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (FEMinWASH) for supporting the commemoration, while acknowledging the management of Police Day Secondary School for hosting the event.
He also recognised the contributions of government agencies, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and the media to the implementation of WASH programmes nationwide.
“Clean hands save lives. The power to protect our families, communities and future generations lies in our hands,” Lawal said.
Earlier, Usman, represented by the ministry’s Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Omotunde Adeola, said Police Day Secondary School was deliberately selected as the venue to empower pupils to spread hygiene awareness beyond the classroom and influence practices in their homes and communities.
He disclosed that a handwashing station had been constructed at the school with support from stakeholders, describing the facility as a practical demonstration of efforts to translate public awareness into everyday action.
Usman urged Nigerians to wash their hands regularly, particularly after using the toilet, handling waste and attending to children, as well as before preparing or consuming food.
“Clean hands remain our first line of defence,” he said, emphasising that the success of Global Handwashing Day should be measured by lasting changes in people’s daily habits rather than ceremonies.
He added that proper handwashing could reduce absenteeism in schools and workplaces, enhance productivity and help prevent contamination, particularly among market women and food handlers responsible for preparing, selling and distributing food.
The commemoration highlighted the need for Nigeria to move beyond periodic awareness campaigns towards sustained investments in hygiene infrastructure, public education and community participation to ensure that all citizens can practise proper handwashing regardless of their location or socioeconomic status.
