Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal has urged Nigerians to adopt water-saving, climate-smart handwashing methods.

Mr Lawal made the call during the commemoration of the 2026 Global Handwashing Day, with the theme “Be a Handwashing Hero,” on Monday at the Police Day Secondary School, Area 11, in Abuja.

The Global Handwashing Day is an international campaign launched in 2008 to promote proper handwashing habits worldwide, particularly with soap at critical times, to prevent diseases and save lives. It is observed annually on October 15.

Mr Lawal, represented by Salihu Usman, the ministry’s permanent secretary, urged the youth to use digital platforms, videos, and social media campaigns to promote handwashing, saying innovative communication could inspire millions to adopt healthier habits.

He said the theme encouraged individuals, families, schools, businesses and governments to promote hand hygiene through consistent actions that protect public health and strengthen communities.

Mr Lawal called on governments at all levels, non-governmental organisations, community leaders and the media to intensify awareness campaigns, improve access to sanitation facilities and encourage behavioural change.

According to him, proper handwashing can reduce the risk of diarrhoeal diseases by up to 50 per cent and respiratory infections by nearly 25 per cent.

Mr Lawal said the federal government, through the Ministry of Environment and other ministries, departments and agencies, remained committed to implementing policies and programmes to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) nationwide.

The minister further urged Nigerians to embrace regular handwashing with soap and running water to prevent diseases and save lives.

The minister also called on schools, healthcare facilities and workplaces to provide accessible handwashing stations.

“Clean hands save lives. The power to protect our families, communities and future generations lies in our hands,” he said.

Also speaking, the national coordinator of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Country Support Platform, Iliya Cheshi, said that educating children about hand hygiene would help them develop healthy habits and share the message within their families and communities.

Mr Iliya, an epidemiologist, called for continued partnerships to promote handwashing, adding that keeping hands clean was a simple step towards building a healthier and safer Nigeria.

(NAN)