Minister Warns of Health Crisis Due to Poor Sanitation, Urges Nationwide Action

Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, has issued a stark warning about the dangerous link between poor sanitation and the spread of communicable diseases across the country. Speaking at an event commemorating the 2025 National Environmental Sanitation Day in Abuja, Lawal revealed that unsanitary living conditions continue to fuel outbreaks of deadly diseases including malaria, Lassa fever, and dengue.

The minister painted a grim picture of the consequences, particularly for Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens. “A large number of children die yearly due to these, and more than 3.5 million children suffer from diarrheal diseases in Nigeria,” Lawal stated, emphasizing that children under five remain especially at risk.

He explained how poor sanitation creates ideal breeding conditions for disease-carrying pests like mosquitoes and rodents, while also leading to contamination of vital water sources.

Beyond the immediate health impacts, Lawal highlighted the broader socioeconomic toll, noting how sanitation-related illnesses drain productivity, burden healthcare systems, and limit economic opportunities for affected families. He called for immediate action to improve waste management, promote proper hygiene practices, and ensure better maintenance of sanitation facilities nationwide.

While acknowledging progress in public awareness campaigns, the minister stressed that much work remains. He praised states that have reinstated monthly sanitation exercises as an important step forward, but lamented that many communities still lack access to basic sanitation – a situation he described as both a public health emergency and a violation of fundamental human rights.

Lawal particularly emphasized the media’s crucial role in driving change, stating: “We call on the media to play a pivotal role in propagating sanitation and hygiene campaigns, leveraging their platforms to drive positive behavior change.”

The event reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to eliminating cholera and other sanitation-linked diseases, with the minister expressing hope that coordinated efforts could help the nation meet key Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.