Shettima seeks stronger action on safe sanitation

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for urgent and coordinated efforts to expand access to safe sanitation nationwide, stressing that sanitation remains a critical foundation for protecting public health across Nigeria.

He warned that poor sanitation continued to endanger communities, increasing disease risks and undermining economic growth, and emphasised the need for stronger collective action to address widespread gaps in sanitation services.

Represented by Inna Binta-Audu on Monday in Abuja at the maiden National Sanitation Conference themed “Accelerating Sanitation for All,” Shettima said millions still lacked safely managed services, exposing communities to persistent, preventable health risks.

He noted that open defecation remained a major challenge, driving recurrent cholera and diarrhoea outbreaks, and cited a World Bank report estimating Nigeria’s annual economic losses from inadequate sanitation services at about N455 billion.

Shettima highlighted federal interventions including the State of Emergency declaration, National Action Plan, PEWASH, SchoolWASH and HealthWASH Programmes, all aimed at strengthening sanitation systems, expanding essential access, and improving hygiene standards across Nigeria.

He added that SURWASH and the Clean Nigeria Campaign, backed by a Presidential Executive Order, continued advancing efforts to eliminate open defecation, supported by stronger monitoring through WASHNORM and expanding capacity-building programmes nationwide.

According to him, 158 Local Government Areas have achieved Open Defecation Free status, while Katsina recently became Nigeria’s second ODF-certified state after Jigawa, marking progress.

He encouraged other states to emulate actively.

Declaring the conference open, Shettima urged governments, development partners, private-sector actors and citizens to intensify collaboration, stressing that unified efforts were necessary to achieve SDG 6.2 targets and build a healthier, more productive nation.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, described the gathering as a significant milestone intended to promote public health, safeguard human dignity, and strengthened national development under President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

Utsev said the conference convened government representatives, partners, researchers, civil society and private-sector stakeholders, emphasising that broad multi-stakeholder collaboration remained essential to achieving national sanitation goals and fully meeting Nigeria’s SDG 6 commitments.

He highlighted the exhibition pavilion showcasing sanitation products, information and services, urging participants to exchange experiences, strengthen partnerships and develop actionable recommendations capable of accelerating Nigeria’s progress in delivering effective sanitation solutions.

Utsev thanked President Tinubu for consistent policy support and commended Vice President Shettima’s leadership of the Clean Nigeria Campaign, expressing optimism that the conference would generate transformative ideas and improved sanitation coordination nationwide.

WASH Ambassador Ebele Okeke called for sustained collaboration and innovation to expand safe sanitation, describing the conference as a landmark moment reflecting Nigeria’s strong commitment to national cleanliness, public health improvement and strengthened sanitation systems.

She stressed sanitation’s importance for dignity, development and well-being, highlighting the Clean Nigeria Campaign’s achievements in behaviour change, partnerships and community mobilisation, urging stakeholders to intensify efforts toward eliminating open defecation nationwide.

Okeke reaffirmed her dedication to inclusive, sustainable sanitation for women, children and vulnerable populations, urging stronger alliances and encouraging participants to champion impactful outcomes capable of advancing Nigeria’s sanitation objectives consistently and effectively.

Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the Head of Service, Ministry of Education and WASH partners, while plenary sessions examined governance strengthening, capacity improvement and unlocking private-sector investments to advance sanitation nationwide.