Navigating Environmental Sanitation and Health Communication in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects

In Nigeria, environmental sanitation is a major health issue due to poor waste disposal, open defecate on, and insufficient sanitation facilities. These factors lead to the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea. Despite government efforts like the National Environmental Sanitation Policy and international initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals, Nigeria still struggles to implement sustainable sanitation practices. This study investigates the link between environmental sanitation and health communication by examining the obstacles and opportunities for raising awareness and increasing compliance with sanitation practices in Nigeria. The study employs qualitative methods to analyze key sanitation issues. The study highlights the critical role of health communication in driving behavioral change, emphasizing the need for localized, culturally sensitive, and multimedia-driven communication strategies. Leveraging traditional media (radio, television), digital platforms (social media, SMS alerts), and community-based approaches can enhance public understanding and engagement in sanitation practices. Furthermore, public-private partnerships, increased investment in WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure, and the revitalization of community-led sanitation programs are identified as viable solutions for overcoming existing challenges. Practical recommendations tailored to the Nigerian context include the reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, stricter waste disposal regulations, the provision of public toilets in markets and motor parks, leveraging Nollywood and social media influencers for sanitation awareness, and establishing community-led sanitation task forces. These interventions, if effectively implemented, can significantly improve Nigeria’s sanitation landscape and reduce the burden of sanitation-related diseases. The study concludes that achieving sustainable environmental sanitation in Nigeria requires a multi-sectoral, participatory, and communication-driven approach that integrates policy enforcement, community engagement, and behavioral change strategies. Addressing these challenges will not only improve public health outcomes but also contribute to Nigeria’s broader development goals.