Vice President Kashim Shettima has projected that Nigeria’s sanitation economy could grow to $14.23 billion by 2030, provided the country embraces innovation, stronger partnerships, and increased private-sector investment.
He stated this while declaring open the 2025 National Sanitation Conference with the theme ” Accelerating Sanitation For All” in Abuja.
Shettima, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs, Inna Binta Audu, said the Federal Government is committed to accelerating access to safe sanitation for all Nigerians.
“Millions of Nigerians still lack access to safely managed sanitation services, despite sanitation being central to public health, human dignity, and national development,” he said.
Shettima raised concerns over the rise in open defecation, noting that it endangers communities, contaminates drinking water, and reduces national productivity.
Citing a World Bank estimate, he said Nigeria loses $3 billion annually due to poor sanitation.
The Vice President highlighted government initiatives aimed at improving Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services, including the National Action Plan, P-WASH, School and Health WASH, SOAR-WASH, and the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign.
He announced that 158 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have achieved Open-Defecation-Free (ODF) status, with Katsina State becoming the second state, after Jigawa, to secure full ODF certification.
Shettima emphasized the need for states and local governments to adopt national sanitation policies and invest in community-led solutions.
He also urged the private sector to explore emerging opportunities in waste-to-wealth initiatives, sanitation marketing, and green technologies.
“Sustainable sanitation depends not just on infrastructure but also on mindset and community responsibility,” he said,
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to achieving SDG 6.2 by 2030.
Earlier, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, described the conference as a major step toward advancing Nigeria’s sanitation agenda.
He stressed that sanitation is critical to human development, national productivity, and long-term economic prosperity.
The conference, he said, provides a platform for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration toward achieving sanitation for all.
WASH Ambassador Ebele Okeke, former Head of Service of the Federation, echoed the call for inclusive and sustainable sanitation, particularly for women, children, and vulnerable groups.
She praised progress made through the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign but emphasized the need for stronger collaboration, innovation, and leadership to end open defecation by 2030.
The event also featured participation from government officials, civil society groups, development partners, and private-sector actors, highlighting the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement in achieving national sanitation goals.
