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Experts have warned that dirty toilets and poor hygiene practices can lead to serious health problems.
The warning was issued at a World Toilet Day event at the Junior Secondary School, Dutse, Abuja on Friday, November 21, 2025.
It was organised by Health Communication and Visibility in partnership with Bam Environmental Consultancy Limited and Newsbalance Media and Communication.
The Programme Director of Health Communication and Visibility, Bukola Afeni, urged students to maintain high standards of hygiene when using toilets, both within and outside school premises.
She stressed that dirty toilets can create unsanitary conditions, leading to infections, skin irritations, and respiratory problems.
“Without proper cleaning, toilets become breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses, and other harmful pathogens. Maintaining hygiene is essential to safeguard our health,” Afeni said.
She noted that the celebration aimed to raise awareness on sanitation and hygiene, promoting collective action towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal six for clean water and sanitation for all.
Afeni encouraged students to become sanitation champions, spreading awareness and inspiring positive change in their communities.
Also speaking, Director of Bam Environmental Consultancy Limited, Bolutife Bamgbowu, called on schools, communities, and government to prioritise sanitation and hygiene to prevent disease outbreaks.
He highlighted the need for schools to provide adequate sanitation facilities, including functional toilets and handwashing stations with soap and water.
“Schools should incorporate hygiene education into their curriculum, teaching students proper handwashing, toilet hygiene, and waste management,” Bamgbowu said.
He further urged the Nigerian government to prioritise sanitation infrastructure development, particularly in rural areas with limited access to improved facilities.
The environmental expert also called on organisations to collaborate with government, schools, and communities to strengthen sanitation and hygiene practices nationwide.
World Toilet Day is observed annually on Nov. 19 to raise awareness about the global sanitation crisis and the importance of access to clean, safe toilets.
The day highlights the challenges billions of people face due to poor sanitation, unsafe hygiene, and lack of proper toilet facilities, which can lead to serious health issues such as diarrhoea, infections, and malnutrition.
It also serves to promote action towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Each year, World Toilet Day has a theme; often focusing on equity, hygiene, innovation, or ending open defecation to encourage governments, communities, and organisations to take collective action for better sanitation.
By Akpan Glory
