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Covid-19: NEWSAN Harps On Hand Wash

Published

5 years ago

August 3, 2020

Admin

The Society for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (NEWSAN) and Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) have called on Nigerians to wholly embrace hand washing as daily routine to effectively curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world.

Speaking at a one-day strategic workshop held recently in Abuja, NEWSAN National Coordinator, Mr. Benson Attah emphasised the importance of the WASH activities in relation to the dreaded coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria. He noted that water as the gateway to citizens’ and country’s development affects all sectors, hence the need to upscale the ongoing awareness campaign among all stakeholders and the general public.

Attah stressed that strict adherence to WASH practices shall curb under 5 (years) mortality rate related to water borne diseases, adding that establishment of WASH facilities will fast-track the reopening of schools in the nation.

He said, “It is also evident that coronavirus has come to stay, therefore, there is a rising need to intensify our interventions in curbing its spread through WASH campaign that we have been championing even before the Covid-19 outbreak.”

He explained that the Society for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (NEWSAN) and Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) are partnering organisations that drive the process responsible for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in ensuring that stakeholders in the WASH sectors are committed to SDG 6 and their national development plan, adding that the essence of the one-day strategic workshop is to review the CSOs’ commitments being developed in 2019 with a wider stakeholders’ engagement.

The session which was attended by the Media, Civil Society groups, Federal Ministries of Health, Women Affairs, Water Resources, Education, Environment, National Orientation Agency, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and FCT RUWASA.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the stakeholders` workshop, the group observed that there is a low level of compliance in most LGAs on ODF practices, as only 23 out of 774 LGAs are open defecation free.

The group noted that due to the fast spreading of Covid-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to create an awareness campaigns at communities/ households levels on WASH practices to effectively control and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

It lamented that some states are not complying with the guidelines of WASH sector while some related projects are being underfunded.

“It is obvious that federal government cannot fund all the projects, hence, private sectors and civil society groups should contribute their quota in achieving the national and global goals.”

NEWSAN reiterates its commitment to engage policy makers so as to hold them accountable for their compliance with Nigeria’s WASH sector’s 2014 and 2019 SWA commitments and Ngor declaration by 2021 just as it urged the legislative arm of the government (federal and state) to enact law that will make it mandatory for both federal and state governments to construct public toilets in strategic locations in the LGAs across the nation.

NEWSAN also said it would intensify its engagement with the State Governors on state by state basis through the Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum (NGF) and seek the support of the legislators at both national and state levels to improve WASH services by 2021.

“In the management of public toilets, low user-fee(s) for users of such facilities should be introduced to encourage the private sector buy into it.”

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Featured

Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

5 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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