By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS), has intensified efforts to ensure universal access to handwashing facilities nationwide.
At a media briefing held Monday, October 13, ahead of the 2025 Global Handwashing Day, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, emphasized that handwashing is more than a hygiene message — it’s a public health intervention that saves lives, boosts economic productivity, and reduces pressure on Nigeria’s overstretched healthcare system.
“Handwashing with soap is an affordable, do-it-yourself vaccine,” Utsev declared, citing its proven impact in reducing diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, and pneumonia.
He pointed out that while 99% of Nigerians are aware of proper handwashing, consistent practice — especially at critical moments like after using the toilet and before eating — remains alarmingly low.
This year’s Global Handwashing Day, themed “Be a Hand Washing Hero,” is being used to reinforce the need for hand hygiene as a national health priority.
A series of month-long campaigns across digital platforms, radio, and television are underway, culminating in a national event on October 15 in Abuja.
Sensitization efforts are also being taken to the grassroots — from marketplaces and health centers to community parks.
Representatives from the Ministries of Environment and Water Resources, along with WASH stakeholders and development partners, echoed the need to normalize hand hygiene as part of Nigeria’s public health culture.
The message was clear: handwashing is not just about soap and water — it’s about building healthier, more resilient communities.
Mr. Aghogho Gbetsere, who represented the Minister of Environment, emphasized the integration of hand hygiene into broader environmental health strategies.
He called for local governments, NGOs, and community leaders to play stronger roles in reinforcing behavior change.
Also speaking, Mr. Moses Jo Madugu, representing the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, described hand hygiene as a “collective responsibility” and a
“public health imperative.”
With WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) programmes now seen as critical levers in Nigeria’s fight against disease and poverty, the push for universal access to handwashing facilities represents a shift in how hygiene is perceived — from a domestic matter to a pillar of national development.
A sensitization road walk, goodwill messages from stakeholders, and collaborative action planning marked the event, setting the stage for what officials hope will be a lasting transformation in Nigeria’s hygiene culture.
