Fatimah Otunsanya
The federal government on Monday raised an alarm over the massive economic losses linked to poor sanitation, warning that Nigeria loses an estimated N455 billion annually due to open defecation, water contamination and sanitation-related diseases.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who declared open the maiden National Sanitation Conference in Abuja, said the country can no longer afford complacency as sanitation failures continue to threaten public health, undermine productivity and damage Nigeria’s global reputation.
“Sanitation is not just infrastructure — it is dignity, productivity, and the future of our children. The human and economic costs are staggering. The time for half measures is over,” Shettima said.
Delivering a keynote address at the conference themed “Accelerating Sanitation for All, Shettima said that despite federal efforts, millions of Nigerians still lack access to safely managed sanitation facilities, while open defecation remains widespread.
He cited repeated outbreaks of cholera, diarrhoea and other preventable diseases as indicators of a system in urgent need of overhaul.
The Vice President highlighted progress under government programmes such as PEWASH, SURWASH, the National Action Plan for WASH, as well as SchoolWASH and HealthWASH.
The Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign, he noted, has helped deliver 158 Open Defecation Free (ODF) LGAs and statewide ODF status in Jigawa and recently Katsina.
He commended Katsina for its milestone, urging other states to “join the race” toward a nationwide ODF status.
Shettima also pointed to the enormous economic potential of the sanitation sector, valued at $14.23 billion by 2030, covering the toilet economy, circular sanitation, smart sanitation technologies and menstrual hygiene markets. He said only a fraction of this potential is being tapped.
He called for innovation, stronger private sector participation, and an enabling environment that supports sustainable sanitation businesses, especially in rural and peri-urban communities.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to achieving SDG 6.2 by 2030, Shettima said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s creation of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation signals the administration’s determination to make WASH a national priority.
“To accelerate sanitation for all, we must act together and act faster, calling on states, local governments, the private sector, civil society and communities to uphold their roles in ensuring a clean and healthy nation,” he said.