The Nasarawa State Government has issued a warning to residents about the increasing healthcare burden resulting from poor sanitation practices. It emphasized that indiscriminate waste disposal continues to fuel preventable diseases and escalate medical expenses across communities.
Community Cleanup Exercise in Masaka
The warning was delivered on Tuesday during a community cleanup and environmental sensitization exercise held in Masaka, Karu Local Government Area. The event was organized under the Digital Peers International-Small Grant Project (DPI-SGP), which focuses on plastic waste management and environmental sustainability.
Economic Impact of Poor Sanitation
This advisory comes amid reports that Nigeria loses approximately N455 billion annually due to poor sanitation and environment-related health challenges. This figure, representing about 1.3 percent of the nation's GDP, translates to roughly $20 per person each year.
Official Statements
In his speech, the Director General of the Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority (NASWAMSA), Mohammed Bello Isa, stated that 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 well-being 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.
Shared Responsibility
According to him, sanitation is a shared responsibility that cannot be left to the 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.
Health and Economic Benefits
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 programs 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.
Public Health Warning
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.
Youth Engagement Initiative
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Digital Peers International, Dr. Ibukun Odusote, represented by Program 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 behavioral 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, sensitization campaigns, and stakeholder engagements aimed at improving waste management practices in Masaka and surrounding communities.
