The Nasarawa State Government has cautioned residents over the rising healthcare burden linked to poor sanitation practices.

It warned that indiscriminate waste disposal continues to fuel preventable diseases and increase medical costs across communities.

The warning was given on Tuesday during a community cleanup and environmental sensitisation exercise held in Masaka, Karu Local Government Area, organised under the Digital Peers International-Small Grant Project (DPI-SGP), focused on plastic waste management and environmental sustainability.

This comes amid reports that Nigeria loses an estimated N455 billion annually to poor sanitation and environment-related health challenges. The figure, put at about 1.3 per cent of the nation’s GDP, translates to roughly $20 per person each year.

In his speech, the Director General of the Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority (NASWAMSA), Mohammed Bello Isa, said poor environmental practices remain a major driver of public health challenges and economic losses in the state.

He noted that environmental cleanliness is directly linked to the health, safety and economic wellbeing of communities.

“Poor waste disposal practices contribute significantly to environmental degradation, flooding, air and water pollution, and vector-borne diseases,” he said.

The Director General, represented by the Director of Waste Management, Dr Ishaq Abubakar Ibrahim, explained that the state government, under Governor Abdullahi Sule, remains committed to improving sanitation systems through strengthened waste collection, recycling initiatives, and sustained public awareness campaigns.

According to him, sanitation is a shared responsibility that cannot be left to government alone.

“Every household, business owner, institution and community leader has a role to play in waste reduction, proper segregation, recycling and responsible disposal,” he said.

He described the cleanup exercise as both symbolic and practical, noting that environmental awareness must be matched with action to achieve lasting impact.

Speaking further, he said NASWAMSA supported the exercise with waste evacuation trucks and personnel, adding that Masaka remains one of the most challenging areas in the Karu axis in terms of waste management.

“This exercise will beautify Masaka. The waste will be evacuated and properly disposed of at designated sites,” he added.

Isa also linked sanitation directly to public health outcomes, stressing that cleaner environments reduce the incidence of disease and the pressure on healthcare facilities.

“Once a community is clean and well managed, the burden of disease reduces significantly, and fewer people will need medical attention for waste-related illnesses,” he said.

He further highlighted the economic value of waste, noting that the sector presents opportunities for job creation and wealth generation through recycling and resource recovery.

“Waste is not just waste. It is a resource. What one person discards can be valuable to another,” he said, referencing ongoing initiatives such as waste recovery programmes and plastic recycling partnerships supported by government and private actors, including collaboration with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).

He added that organic waste, which constitutes a large portion of the waste stream in Nasarawa State, can be converted into organic manure to support agriculture, while plastic waste can be recycled into usable products.

Also speaking, the Director of Public Health at NASWAMSA, Dr Joseph David Anzaku, warned that indiscriminate waste disposal exposes communities to communicable and tropical diseases, increasing household and government spending on avoidable healthcare needs.

“The dangers of poor waste management are numerous. They include the spread of infectious diseases and the diversion of resources meant for family welfare into unnecessary medical treatments,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Digital Peers International, Dr Ibukun Odusote, represented by Programme Officer Pada Zadunya, said the initiative; titled “Deploying the Power of IT-Engaged Youths in Effective Plastic Use and Plastic Waste Management 2.0” aims to promote environmental sustainability through youth engagement, innovation, and behavioural change.

She noted that the project is supported by the UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (UNDP-GEF SGP) Nigeria and seeks to build sustainable solutions to plastic pollution while empowering young people economically.

Odusote emphasized that environmental responsibility is a collective duty requiring consistent action from all stakeholders, urging participants to serve as ambassadors of cleanliness within their communities.

The exercise featured cleanup activities, sensitisation campaigns, and stakeholder engagements aimed at improving waste management practices in Masaka and surrounding communities.