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FG Says there is Urgent Need for Massive Investment in Sanitation for Economic Growth
FG Says there is Urgent Need for Massive Investment in Sanitation for Economic Growth
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has said the nation needs urgent and massive investment and innovation along the entire sanitation to improve public health and the economy.
Speaking at the commemoration of World Toilet Day in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal
while lamenting that about 48 million Nigerians openly defecate, said: “We need urgent and massive investment and innovation along the entire sanitation service chain. Investment in the sanitation sector is good for public health and the economy. For instance, every one Naira invested in toilets and sanitation, up to five Naira is returned in saved medical costs, better health, increased productivity, education and jobs.”
He noted that: “The Federal Government of Nigeria has demonstrated practical commitment to addressing the sanitation challenges through the following actions:
i) Declaration of State of Emergency on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the Country by Mr. President and the signing of Executive Order no 009 on Open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2025.
ii) Revision and validation of the 2005 National Environmental Sanitation Policy including its policy guidelines on safe excreta and sewage disposal by my ministry and national stakeholders. I will soon present the revised Policy to the Federal Executive Council for its approval.
iii) Community-based intervention on the control of open defecation as well as the clean and green programmes of the Federal Ministry of Environment which are aimed among others at promoting the provision of safe and adequate toilets across the country, particularly in public places and ensuring proper excreta management in Nigeria.”
He said as part of the activities for the commemoration of this year’s event, the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Education carried out advocacy, sensitization and sanitary inspection of Federal Government Unity schools in FCT, adding that findings from the sanitary inspection of Federal Government Unity schools in FCT revealed the following:
“Some of the toilets in the hostels in some of the schools visited were locked because they are not in good condition;
Poor or inadequate water supply in some of the schools which affects the use and access to toilets by the students who obviously practice open defecation as there are evidence of presence of excreta in the surrounding environment; Defective septic tanks which can serve as breeding place for pests and vectors of public health importance such as mosquitoes, rats, snakes etc.”
He called on Unity schools across the country which may likely have similar sanitation challenges to take note and improve on their sanitation situation.
He solicited for the support of Development Partners, NGOs CSOs, the Organized Private Sector, Community Leaders and indeed everyone to promote good sanitation and hygiene practices for overall environmental health protection.
He reminded all stakeholders that the countdown to 2030 has begun and “we must accelerate progress to ensure everyone has access to toilets by 2030, hence, I call on the organized private sector and commercial entities to support the government by contributing their quota to the establishment of functional toilet facilities across the country for general public use.”
On his part, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev said Nigeria is committed to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of which target 6.2 for Sanitation seeks to “
He noted that: “Our commitment is motivated by the realisation that it would contribute significantly to the achievement of our national developmental goals.”
He said: “With only seven years to go, progress on achieving the global SDG Sanitation target of safely managed services is off track and Nigeria is regrettably among those countries lagging behind manifested in high disparities in access across wealth quintiles and locations. Globally, an estimated two-thirds of people who lack basic access to sanitation services live in rural areas, with nearly half of them in Sub-Saharan Africa, while over 90% of the world’s population practising open defecation inhabit these areas. It is estimated that it will require five times the current rate of progress to meet the 2030 target date globally. In Nigeria, only over half of the population have access to basic sanitation services with about a quarter engaged in open defecation. The country will therefore need to quintuple its current rate of implementation and triple its investment in order to stay on course towards meeting our obligations under the SDG targets for sanitation.”
FG Says there is Urgent Need for Massive Investment in Sanitation for Economic Growth
War on Terror: NHRC Insists Protection of Civilians Must Be Top Priority
By: Michael Mike
The National Human Rights Commission has issued a strongly worded response to the recent surge in terrorist violence across Nigeria, warning that the country risks deepening insecurity if the protection of civilians is not made the central pillar of national security strategy.
In a statement released by its Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, the Commission conveyed condolences to the Nigerian Armed Forces and to governments and citizens of states hardest hit by the attacks, including Borno State, Niger State, Benue State, Kaduna State, Kwara State, Sokoto State, and Plateau State.
The Commission said it is “deeply concerned” about the increasing frequency, coordination, and geographic spread of attacks, noting that both military formations and civilian targets—including markets, places of worship, and public institutions—have come under sustained assault. Particular concern was raised over coordinated attacks on military bases in the North-East, especially in Borno, and suicide bombings in civilian areas such as Maiduguri.
Ojukwu described the pattern of violence as a “grave and systematic assault” on fundamental rights, including the right to life, dignity, and personal security, as enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution and international obligations like the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He stressed that deliberate attacks on civilians and security personnel by non-state armed groups constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.
Beyond condemnation, the NHRC raised alarm over what it described as an evolving and more dangerous phase of insecurity—marked by coordinated military assaults, mass village raids, suicide bombings, and a widening spread from the North-East into the North-West and North-Central regions.
While acknowledging the sacrifices of the military, the Commission argued that Nigeria must confront a critical gap in its security architecture. “The protection of civilians cannot remain incidental to security operations—it must be their central objective,” Ojukwu said.
To address this, the Commission called for the urgent development and implementation of a comprehensive national policy focused on civilian protection. It said such a framework must place human rights at the core of all security responses, prioritise the prevention of harm in vulnerable communities, enforce accountability for violations by both state and non-state actors, and provide effective support systems for victims and survivors.
The proposed policy, according to the NHRC, should also ensure strict adherence by security forces to the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution in military operations, while strengthening early warning systems and community engagement in high-risk areas.
Ojukwu emphasized that civilians must not be treated as “collateral damage” but as rights-holders whose protection and dignity are non-negotiable. He added that a human rights-based approach to national security is not a sign of weakness but a legal and strategic necessity.
“Global evidence shows that sustainable peace can only be achieved where the state consistently protects the rights of its people,” he noted.
The Commission reaffirmed its solidarity with affected communities and security forces, pledging continued collaboration with the Federal Government, state authorities, and civil society to ensure that Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts reinforce, rather than erode, democratic and human rights principles.
War on Terror: NHRC Insists Protection of Civilians Must Be Top Priority
Troops recover pistol, arrest two suspects in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops under Operation OPEP have arrested two suspects in possession of a pistol during a stop-and-search operation in Kuru, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on April 11 while troops of Sector 6 OPEP were conducting routine checks in the area.
According to the sources, the suspects were intercepted with one pistol loaded with four rounds of 9mm ammunition, two mobile phones, a jackknife and the sum of N1,700.
The sources added that the suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation to determine the source of the weapon and possible links to criminal networks.
Troops recover pistol, arrest two suspects in Plateau
Troops recover three kidnapped victims in Bauchi
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of CSI Battalion have recovered three kidnapped victims during a patrol operation in Garin Bagobiri, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Security sources said the operation was conducted at about 11:30 a.m. on April 12 as troops exploited the general area following an air strike on suspected terrorist hideouts on April 10.
According to the sources, the victims were recovered during the patrol and subsequently profiled by the troops.
They added that the rescued persons were handed over to an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Futuk for further care and documentation.
The sources noted that ongoing operations in the area are aimed at consolidating gains from recent offensives and denying terrorists freedom of movement.
Troops recover three kidnapped victims in Bauchi
War on Terror: NHRC Insists Protection of Civilians Must Be Top Priority
Troops recover pistol, arrest two suspects in Plateau
Troops recover three kidnapped victims in Bauchi
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