FACTS ABOUT SANITATION CULTURE IN NIGERIA

Merriam webster dictionary defined sanitation as the promotion of hygiene and prevention of disease by maintenance of sanitary conditions (as by removal of sewage and trash). It is the constant and monitored removal and proper disposition of waste products at the appropriate place at all times in order to prevent dirty environment which in the long run help suppresses the issue of diseases spread and contamination. Culture of sanitation is one that's dearth among Nigerians perhaps because waste disposal trainings aren't inculcated in the educational syllabuses across all educational levels.

Even religious books preaches cleanliness as it's said that cleanliness is next to godliness and from the teaching of the orthodox Islamic religion, it's said that God won't accept your prayers unless you're cleaned. Little would one however wonder why so many Nigerians dispose waste lackadaisically without foreseeing the dangers attached to a very dirty environment which in most cases is health related. World Health Organization (WHO) research has it on record that poor sanitation is linked to transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio and exacerbates stunting.

I recalled a scenario during my second year in the University when we arrived at our classroom for 8am Lecture. The cleaners charged with the responsibilities of sweeping the classrooms were leaving as soon as we arrived the classroom as they're already done with their duty. Amazingly, I saw a lady eating groundnuts and peeling the shell of the nuts on the floor. I approached her to correct what she's doing as wrong and tell her to do the needful by dropping the shells in the nylon it's packed and properly dispose it in the waste bin in front of the classroom. She refuted my suggestion and exclaimed that she paid school fees and it's the work of the cleaners to always come and sweep the classroom every morning. I felt gobsmacked and couldn't utter any more to correct her for her ideology of sanitation is extremely too poor. This is the case with so many Nigerians as some others complained of no near waste disposal.

Not seeing a waste bin at near shouldn't be the reason you the floor and cities with sachets of water, biscuits, other items and plastics of drinks of any kind. I've once travelled from Ìbàdàn to Òsogbo in Osun State, Nigeria having a sachet of ice cream in my chest pocket. This is because I couldn't find a waste bin at my disposal and I'd to keep it with me till I see one. I've heard Nigerians blaming the government of dirty cities as the common culture here to faults the government for every irresponsibility. I then ask myself the questions, should the government appoint a cleaner behind every pedestrians/passengers on the road so as to pick any dirt dropped by them while threading the roads? We should learn to take responsibilities as we're at the receiving end of the negativities of unhygienic society. 

After Using it, Keep it in your Pocket till you see a Waste Disposal❗

_ALAMU Azeez is a research enthusiast, political analyst, educational consultant and a finalist of the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin. He can be reached via ilyasazeezalamu@gmail.com._