The Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, FNSE, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting hand hygiene and ensuring universal access to handwashing facilities across Nigeria.
Speaking during a media briefing held on Monday, 13th October 2025, at the Ministry’s Conference Room, Abuja, ahead of the commemoration of the 2025 Global Handwashing Day, themed “Our Hands, Our Future,” the Minister commended members of the media for their continued partnership in advancing the national handwashing campaign.
Prof. Utsev noted that Global Handwashing Day, designated by the United Nations and observed annually on October 15, serves as an international platform to raise awareness on the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
He emphasized that handwashing remains a critical measure for disease prevention, contributing significantly to improved health, reduced mortality, and enhanced economic productivity. According to him, “Handwashing with soap is an affordable, accessible ‘do-it-yourself’ vaccine against sanitation and hygiene-related diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid fever, and pneumonia.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s progress and challenges, the Minister revealed that while awareness of handwashing practices stands at 99%, there remains a gap in consistent practice, particularly after defecation, before eating, and at other critical times. He stressed the need to intensify hygiene education and expand access to handwashing facilities with soap and water, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 6.2.
According to the Honourable Minister, to commemorate the 2025 Global Handwashing Day, the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS), in collaboration with development partners, has lined up several activities, including month-long electronic and social media engagements across radio, television, and digital platforms.
The celebration will also feature a National Commemoration Event on Wednesday, 15th October 2025, in Abuja, which will include symbolic handwashing by dignitaries. Additionally, sensitization campaigns will hold in markets, primary healthcare facilities, parks, and communities nationwide to promote proper handwashing practices and raise awareness on the importance of hygiene.
Prof. Utsev acknowledged the support of partners such as Reckitt, UNICEF, WaterAid, Action Against Hunger, the EU, Self Help Africa, and Sightsavers among many others, for their continued contributions toward improving hand hygiene in Nigeria.
Representing the Honourable Minister of Environment, Mr. Aghogho Gbetsere urged Nigerians to “Be a Handwashing Hero” by making handwashing with soap a daily habit to prevent diseases and promote public health. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and called on all stakeholders to support nationwide hygiene awareness and access to handwashing facilities.
Also speaking, Mr. Moses Jo Madugu, Director, Reforms Coordination, representing the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of collective action in promoting consistent handwashing practices. He commended the NTGS for its leadership and recognized the media’s critical role in driving advocacy and behaviour change across the country.
Also present at the briefing were Directors and key stakeholders in the water resources sector.
Signed:
Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan
Director, Information & Public Relations
Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation
Date: 13th October 2025
