The quest for better healthy and hygienic practices in Nigeria has spurred the launch of a multi-sectoral partnership. AUGUSTINA ONYECHE KADIRI reports

In a bid to improve cleanliness in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with Initiative for Community Development (ICD), has come to a round table to discuss ways and means to employ collective approach in tackling the problems and challenges of sanitation and hygiene practices in Nigeria

The event, which is a derivative of a consultative meeting by environmental health stakeholders held on the 22nd of July, 2010, was well attended by partnering NGOs, civil servants and the media. It brought to the fore, the need for public-private partnership in advancing proper implementation and enforcement of environmental health and sanitation laws in Nigeria.

In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mallam M. S. Bashar ably represented by Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Dr. O. Dada, commented that "sustainable development starts from provision of basic sanitation that promotes people's health and dignity", adding that such "development will bring remarkable hints which will foster the health and well being of the teaming population at large".

Further charging the participants, he hinted that "there cannot be better ways of handling sanitation problems in the country rather than to employ integrated and holistic approach".

Appraising the Ministry of Environment for assisting in alleviating the problems of environmental sanitation in the past, Bashar hinted that the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), were created to check environmental problems in the nation. He urged all Nigerians to be environmental sanitation vanguards and stand up to support the noble course geared towards transforming Nigeria to become a better nation.

In a key note address, the Honourable Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey, ably represented by Director of Human Resources of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Gambo Jakarda stressed: "Environmental sanitation continues to remain a major challenge affecting the socio-economic development in Nigeria". While calling for partnership and emphasising that the ministry alone cannot drive the process, he revealed that, "12 per cent of the population have no toilet of any kind, less than 50 per cent have access to improved water services while 87 per cent use sanitary waste disposal methods". He urged the private sector to assist in redressing the situation.

The CEO of the Initiative for Community Development (ICD), Hon. Benjamin Ogbalor, in a presentation on the purpose of the partnership, averred that sanitation and partnership are central to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. He further disclosed that the aim of the partnership is "to call all actors to operate on this plan and get results".

Speaking further on the immediate actions needed to be taken, Ogbalor stressed that a project management team should be constituted; a national plan developed and validated; roles and responsibilities be assigned; as well as joint implementation, assessment, report and review be assigned with mutual accountability, among others.

"Nigeria has a Vision 20:2020; certainly, we cannot achieve this goal with an unhealthy environment, because a few of the MDGs are related to environmental sanitation".

He called on all actors that can contribute to the development of environmental sanitation and hygiene control to lend a hand and aid in the development of the health sector in Nigeria.

Worthy of emphasis was the presence of the Commissioner of Environment for Niger State, Alh. Muhammed Adamu, who came to pledge support and goodwill for the launch of the multi-sectoral partnership on sanitation and hygiene practices in Nigeria. While lauding the Initiative for Community Development (ICD), and the Federal Ministry of Environment, he enjoined all to assist in improving our environmental challenges, stressing, "We must all put hands together and actualise our dreams".

Also notable was a representative from the Yakubu Gowon Centre, Mr. M.B Agbang who came to endorse the launch. In a goodwill speech, he expressed the hope that "this initiative will foster the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals". He further challenged the Federal Ministry of Health and the Initiative for Community Development to "go beyond formulation of policies and address environmental issues that negatively affect the environment on a daily basis". Making reference to increase in the number of cars and generators being imported into the country, he argued that the increase has only worsened the fight against environmental pollution. He called on both bodies to form policies against this.

Giving the vote of thanks, the Deputy Director of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. (Mrs.) N.Ezeigwe, appreciated the commitment of the state officials and partners, while commissioning the organisers of the event. She prayed the audience to commit with indices that will move us forward towards the attainment of the MDGs and also, called on the media to partner with the Government to move the initiative forward.

It can be recalled that on March 22nd, 2010, the Federal Ministry of Environment entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Initiative for Community Development. The understanding was geared towards private sector participation in the area of environmental sanitation and control and also, fashion out a mechanism for joint funding, implementation and assessment of environmental sanitation and actions in Nigeria by all stakeholders within the framework of Public Private Partnership (PPP).