By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to adopt handwashing with soap as a national culture to prevent diseases, save lives and strengthen public health.
The Honourable Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, made the call on Monday, 19th October, 2026, at Police Day Secondary School, Area 11, Abuja, during the commemoration of the 2026 Global Handwashing Day.
The event, themed “Be a Handwashing Hero,” drew stakeholders from government ministries, international partners, NGOs and the education sector.
Lawal said the theme was a call for collaborative action by individuals, families, schools, businesses and governments to champion hand hygiene as a shared responsibility.
“Heroes or heroines aren’t born; they are made through consistent actions that inspire, protect and preserve people and community,” the Minister said.
He noted that handwashing with soap under running water remains one of the simplest, most effective and most affordable ways to prevent the spread of pathogens and infectious diseases.
According to him, diseases such as COVID-19, Cholera, Diphtheria, Typhoid and Lassa fever can be significantly prevented through proper hand hygiene, adding that global health experts estimate that proper handwashing can reduce diarrheal diseases by up to 50 per cent and respiratory infections by nearly 25 per cent.
The Minister said the commemoration goes beyond the provision of sanitation facilities to emphasising their safe management to prevent disease outbreaks and ensure quality sanitation delivery services.
He stressed that improved sanitation and hygiene are critical to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 6 – Good Health and Well-being, and Clean Water and Sanitation – by 2030.
Lawal disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Environment and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains committed to implementing policies and programmes that promote and improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) across communities.
Charging Nigerians to rise as Handwashing Heroes, the Minister listed simple but impactful actions:
He urged citizens to wash hands with soap and running water at critical times – before eating, after using the toilet, after handling waste and after contact with people and animals; ensure schools, healthcare facilities and workplaces have accessible handwashing stations; promote hygiene education among children and communities; and support government WASH initiatives.
On sustainability, Lawal advocated climate-smart, water-saving handwashing techniques such as tippy taps, noting that this aligns with Nigeria’s national climate action plans and ensures handwashing does not exacerbate water scarcity.
He made a special appeal to the youth as digital natives and change-makers to leverage technology to promote hand hygiene.
“You are the digital natives and change-makers. Create apps, videos and campaigns that make handwashing fun and viral. Heroes like you can influence millions with a single post,” he said.
The Minister also called on state and local governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders, NGOs, community leaders and the media to intensify awareness creation, improve access to sanitation and hygiene facilities and promote behavioural change.
In his opening remarks earlier, a representative of the Ministry said Global Handwashing Day, initiated by the Global Handwashing Partnership (GHP) in 2008 and observed every October 15, is a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness about handwashing with soap.
He said though the global date is October 15, the Ministry, in collaboration with stakeholders, chose 19th October, 2026, to join the world in the celebration, to sustain awareness.
He added that clean hands remain the first line of defence against infectious diseases, reducing hospital-acquired infections, absenteeism in schools and workplaces and fostering a healthier, more productive society.
Appreciating partners, Lawal thanked the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (FEMinWASH), MDAs, NGOs, Community-Based Organisations and the media for their support for WASH programmes.
He also thanked the management and students of Police Day Secondary School for hosting the event.
“As we commemorate this day, let us remember that clean hands save lives. The power to protect our families, communities and future generations lies in our hands,” Lawal said.
The event featured handwashing demonstrations by students and distribution of hygiene materials.
