By Sunny Onyekwere
December 28, 2025
The Etsu of Kwali, His Royal Highness Luka Ayedoo Nizassan III, has disclosed adoption of a community-wide initiative demanding local ownership of public health programmes, aiming to drastically improve hygiene standards, boost life expectancy in the area.
In an address to international visitors led by FCT – RUWASSA officials and community members to his palace, on a recent assessment of hygiene status, HRH Nizassan III emphasized a shift from government dependence to community action, anchored by new local regulations.
He said: “We want to take ownership of this programme, and in the process, develop cultural practices that support public health”.
He described the initiative as an essential update to Kwali’s traditions, ensuring they meet modern hygiene standards, the needs of future generations.
He added that there is key change in a new rule for property development in his domain, saying “Consequently, it is now a rule that when establishing a new home, one must make provisions for water and sanitation.”
For existing buildings, the monarch urged private initiative where government services fall short. “Where the government cannot provide water, individuals should find private ways to make water available,” he said.
According to him, the push also includes efforts to eliminate open defecation by encouraging the construction of private toilets.
Explaining that the initiative is built on the belief that ownership directly correlates with longevity, he asserted: “If we truly want to increase life expectancy, we have to own the processes that we give to our children”.
Also, the traditional ruler highlighted a consensus reached in a recent meeting with his cabinet to reduce reliance on federal, local government environmental sanitation efforts.
It was gathered that to foster engagement, the community has institutionalized a monthly ‘Community Sanitation Day”, which tracks hygiene progress, introduces healthy competition, with plans to provide rewards for the cleanest neighbourhoods.
Furthermore, HRH Nizassan III mentioned interaction with the UNDP, where he advocated for efficiency, advising the international body to utilize the community’s existing baseline report rather than conducting new, duplicative assessments.
The Esu concluded his remarks by thanking his guests, assuring them of the area’s safety: “We are working to establish a new culture of cleanliness. We are safe, and Kwali is secure.”
