By Miriam Humbe
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.
Director, Information and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Ibrahim Haruna disclosed this in a statement.
The sensitization campaign took place in Lafia, Nasarawa State, as part of the activities lined up to commemorate the 2025 National Environmental Sanitation Day (NESD).
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, 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, the Perm Sec said 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, was particularly relevant, and urged 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 could significantly reduce the risk of diseases like cholera and malaria.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Hussaini Usman Babayayi, warned that enforcement teams would henceforth strictly enforce sanitation standards in markets and communities, ensuring compliance.
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.
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.
The climax of the activities line-up would be the commemoration of the event today Thursday 17th July, 2025 in Lafia, Nassarawa State, North Central Zone.
June 28th of every year is chosen to mark the National Environmental Sanitation Day, promoting environmental cleanliness and disease prevention.
To commemorate this, the Federal Ministry of Environment along some partners organized Ministerial Press briefing in Abuja, ahead of the main event in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
