The Federal Government has partnered with key stakeholders in Lafia, Nasarawa State, for a sanitation exercise aimed at maintaining cleanliness to prevent diseases in the state capital and its environs.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Adam Kambari, who led the initiative at Lafia Modern Market and Ungwan Wajen Lalle, urged market women, traders, and residents to prioritise market cleanliness and environmental protection.

According to Kambari, the sensitisation campaign in Lafia is part of the activities scheduled to commemorate the 2025 National Environmental Sanitation Day (NESD).

Represented by Director II of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Mrs. Omotunde Adeola, he stated that “cleanliness is next to godliness,” calling on women to keep their surroundings clean, noting that “We cannot be productive, if we neglect environmental hygiene.”

Kambari explained that this year’s theme, “Safe Sanitation and Hygiene for Disease Prevention,” is particularly relevant, and emphasised that stakeholders must sustain public awareness efforts on sanitation practices within their communities.

The State Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Margaret Itaki Elayo, urged residents to maintain a clean environment, stressing that good hygiene practices can significantly reduce the risk of diseases such as cholera and malaria.

Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Hussaini Usman Babayayi, the Commissioner called on enforcement teams to strictly implement sanitation standards in markets and communities to ensure compliance.

In separate remarks, Deputy Director of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), representing the Registrar/CEO, Nathaniel Omonayajo, highlighted the importance of sanitation and called for an end to open defecation to ensure a healthier and more productive society.

Meanwhile, the General Manager of Nasarawa State Environmental Protection Agency (NASEPA), Yusuf Illiya Adela, advised residents to install toilet facilities in their homes, practice handwashing, and participate in the monthly sanitation exercises to prevent disease outbreaks.

The State’s ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Mr. Elias Napoleon, also appealed to women and children to prioritise cleanliness and to spread the message throughout the community.

Dakaci of Angwan Wajen Lalle community in Lafia metropolis, Baba Saidu, expressed gratitude for the initiative but requested government assistance in addressing the persistent erosion problem in the area.

The climax of the activities will be the commemoration of the event in Lafia, Nasarawa State, in the North Central Zone. June 28th every year is designated to mark National Environmental Sanitation Day, promoting environmental cleanliness and disease prevention.