Sanitation Can Decide Elections, Prof Jack Sim Tells Nigerian Politicians
As Nigerians continue to demand better living conditions, global sanitation advocate Jack Sim says politicians who prioritise sanitation and public health infrastructure could gain stronger voter support.
Speaking in Abuja after presenting a paper titled Beyond Resources: Investing in People, Building Nigeria’s Future at a seminar organised by the Office of the Civil Service of the Federation alongside the Public Education Works Initiative and The Star Advantage Network, Sim described sanitation as a powerful but neglected political issue.
He warned that poor sanitation and open defecation continue to threaten public health, environmental safety and human dignity in Nigeria, insisting that leaders would act faster if sanitation reforms became politically rewarding.
“If sanitation becomes something that wins votes, then politicians will act,” he said.
Sim also urged Nigeria to adopt practical solutions already working in other parts of the world, noting that many development challenges in health, education, housing and energy had already been solved elsewhere.
Drawing lessons from Singapore, he said national transformation requires committed leadership focused on implementation rather than criticism.
He further called for increased local refining of Nigeria’s natural resources to boost job creation and generate more economic value.
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