The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in collaboration with Development Partners has officially launched the “Accelerating Inclusive Sanitation and Hygiene Economy in Nigeria” project.
The project which was launched on Tuesday in Abuja, was a ground breaking step towards improving sanitation and hygiene services across Nigeria.
The initiative, spearheaded by WaterAid Nigeria with a $2.5 million grant from the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF), is set to transform access to sanitation and hygiene in four local government areas (LGAs) in Bauchi State over the next 30 months.
The Director Information and Public Relations of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, quoted the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, who represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah at the event to have described the project as a landmark intervention in tackling Nigeria’s sanitation and hygiene challenges.
He intimated that the initiative aims to empower underserved communities, reduce the prevalence of waterborne diseases, and strengthen women and youth engagement in WASH-related businesses.
“Today’s event marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to improve public health, enhance the quality of life, and ensure the dignity of millions of Nigerians through better access to sanitation and hygiene services. Access to adequate sanitation and hygiene is not just a basic human right, but a cornerstone for building resilient communities and achieving sustainable progress in the livelihood of people”, the Minister added.
He also revealed that the project will focus on providing safe water and sanitation infrastructure in vulnerable communities, including cholera hotspots, supporting economic empowerment of women and youth in WASH-related enterprises, promoting innovative and inclusive hygiene practices, especially for marginalized groups as well as reeducing the recurrence of cholera outbreaks in targeted communities.
The representative of the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Commissioner for Health, Hon. Sani Muhammed Dambam, expressed gratitude to WaterAid and the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund for bringing this transformative project to the state.
He noted that the project, built on an innovative concept, would significantly enhance the economic well-being of the people of Bauchi and support the sustainability of ongoing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) efforts in the state.
The Country Director of WaterAid, Evelyn Mere welcomed stakeholders and emphasized the initiative’s aim to bridge significant gaps in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access, particularly in Bauchi State.
She added that $2.5 million project, funded by the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund, seeks to address sanitation and hygiene challenges through innovative, inclusive, and sustainable solutions over 30 months.
She also intimated that the project will benefit 900,000 individuals in Bauchi, Tafawa Balewa, Misau, and Jama’are LGAs and will be implemented in collaboration with federal ministries, Bauchi State agencies, and technical partners like Sanivation.
WaterAid commended the progress in Bauchi, including achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in nine LGAs, while acknowledging the need for further efforts to achieve safely managed sanitation.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Representative of WASH Donor Partners and the representative of the Coordinating Minister of Health The event also marked the inauguration of the Project Oversight Committee (POC), tasked with ensuring effective implementation and strategic guidance for the project.
The members of the Project Oversight Committee include representatives from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Budget and National Planning.
Other members include the National Orientation Agency (NOA), UNICEF, NEWSAN, and the National Cholera Committee under the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (CSP).
