30th November, 2024
The Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Joseph Utsev, has called on Nigerian communities to take ownership of their sanitation agenda, emphasizing the importance of grassroots involvement in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The minister, represented by the Director of Water, Sanitation, and Policy, Mr. Olu Daniels, made this appeal on Saturday at the commissioning of ultramodern toilet facilities in Jahun, Jigawa State.
The event, organized to mark World Toilet Day, underscored the state’s commitment to improving hygiene and sanitation.
Highlighting Jigawa’s achievements in the Open Defecation Campaign, Mr. Utsev described the state as a model for others to emulate. “Jigawa is a beacon of hope in the Open Defecation Campaign,” he said.
Governor Umar Namadi, represented by the Speaker of the Jigawa House of Assembly, Mr. Haruna Dangyatun, praised federal and development partners for their support in enhancing sanitation across the state. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to constructing additional toilet facilities in markets and motor parks to maintain Jigawa’s open defecation-free status.
State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Ibrahim Garba-Hannungiwa, stressed the importance of collective responsibility in achieving sanitation goals, urging traditional and religious leaders to leverage their influence for increased community mobilization. He also announced the development of a strategic document, with UNICEF’s support, aimed at attaining safely managed sanitation across the state by 2027.
At the event, the Provost of the School of Health Technology, Jahun, Mr. Abdullahi Abubakar, commended the government’s efforts, noting the new facilities’ potential to enhance sanitation in schools. Similarly, the Managing Director of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Mr. Abubakar Sidi, highlighted the role of sanitation in boosting girls’ school enrollment, explaining that clean environments make adolescent girls feel safer and more comfortable attending school.
Mr. Sidi also emphasized the importance of sustaining Jigawa’s open defecation-free status, urging residents and students to utilize the new facilities responsibly to promote personal and environmental hygiene.
