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FG Says there is Urgent Need for Massive Investment in Sanitation for Economic Growth
FG Says there is Urgent Need for Massive Investment in Sanitation for Economic Growth
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has said the nation needs urgent and massive investment and innovation along the entire sanitation to improve public health and the economy.
Speaking at the commemoration of World Toilet Day in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal
while lamenting that about 48 million Nigerians openly defecate, said: “We need urgent and massive investment and innovation along the entire sanitation service chain. Investment in the sanitation sector is good for public health and the economy. For instance, every one Naira invested in toilets and sanitation, up to five Naira is returned in saved medical costs, better health, increased productivity, education and jobs.”
He noted that: “The Federal Government of Nigeria has demonstrated practical commitment to addressing the sanitation challenges through the following actions:
i) Declaration of State of Emergency on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the Country by Mr. President and the signing of Executive Order no 009 on Open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2025.
ii) Revision and validation of the 2005 National Environmental Sanitation Policy including its policy guidelines on safe excreta and sewage disposal by my ministry and national stakeholders. I will soon present the revised Policy to the Federal Executive Council for its approval.
iii) Community-based intervention on the control of open defecation as well as the clean and green programmes of the Federal Ministry of Environment which are aimed among others at promoting the provision of safe and adequate toilets across the country, particularly in public places and ensuring proper excreta management in Nigeria.”
He said as part of the activities for the commemoration of this year’s event, the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Education carried out advocacy, sensitization and sanitary inspection of Federal Government Unity schools in FCT, adding that findings from the sanitary inspection of Federal Government Unity schools in FCT revealed the following:
“Some of the toilets in the hostels in some of the schools visited were locked because they are not in good condition;
Poor or inadequate water supply in some of the schools which affects the use and access to toilets by the students who obviously practice open defecation as there are evidence of presence of excreta in the surrounding environment; Defective septic tanks which can serve as breeding place for pests and vectors of public health importance such as mosquitoes, rats, snakes etc.”
He called on Unity schools across the country which may likely have similar sanitation challenges to take note and improve on their sanitation situation.
He solicited for the support of Development Partners, NGOs CSOs, the Organized Private Sector, Community Leaders and indeed everyone to promote good sanitation and hygiene practices for overall environmental health protection.
He reminded all stakeholders that the countdown to 2030 has begun and “we must accelerate progress to ensure everyone has access to toilets by 2030, hence, I call on the organized private sector and commercial entities to support the government by contributing their quota to the establishment of functional toilet facilities across the country for general public use.”
On his part, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev said Nigeria is committed to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of which target 6.2 for Sanitation seeks to “
He noted that: “Our commitment is motivated by the realisation that it would contribute significantly to the achievement of our national developmental goals.”
He said: “With only seven years to go, progress on achieving the global SDG Sanitation target of safely managed services is off track and Nigeria is regrettably among those countries lagging behind manifested in high disparities in access across wealth quintiles and locations. Globally, an estimated two-thirds of people who lack basic access to sanitation services live in rural areas, with nearly half of them in Sub-Saharan Africa, while over 90% of the world’s population practising open defecation inhabit these areas. It is estimated that it will require five times the current rate of progress to meet the 2030 target date globally. In Nigeria, only over half of the population have access to basic sanitation services with about a quarter engaged in open defecation. The country will therefore need to quintuple its current rate of implementation and triple its investment in order to stay on course towards meeting our obligations under the SDG targets for sanitation.”
FG Says there is Urgent Need for Massive Investment in Sanitation for Economic Growth
Over 930, 000 persons benefit from ACReSAL Projects in Gombe
Mr Mohammed Fawu, the Gombe State Commissioner of Water, Environment and Forest Resources, has stated that no fewer than 930,162 persons across the state have benefitted from the implementation of the World-Bank-funded Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project in the state within the past three years
Fawu stated this in Gombe on Monday while declaring open a four-day training of enumerators for ACReSAL Third Party Assessment.
Fawu stated that Gombe State has within the three years received disbursements amounting to $27.51 million for the implementation of the project which had impacted positively on the lives of residents.
He said that the projects so far implemented have contributed to combating land degradation, erosion, and climate change while improving on the lives of persons living around communities were projects were executed.
“Gombe State has advanced a wide range of landscape and community-level interventions, including: establishment of 313 hectares of woodlot plantation.
“Upgrading of Kanawa Forest into a biosphere resort and botanical garden, indigenous tree plantations and roadside shelterbelts spanning 110 kilometres.
“Canalization of Balanga Dam irrigation channels covering 6,329 hectares provision of 250 wash boreholes to support irrigation farming.
“ At the community level, we have distributed clean cook stoves to 3,000 households, provided rainwater harvesting facilities to 1,000 households and institutions, and supplied drought-tolerant seeds to 10,000 farmers.
“Solar-powered irrigation schemes, borehole drilling, and Community Revolving Fund activities are ongoing, supporting agro-processing, livestock, and farm enterprise development,” he said.
He added that ACReSAL has strengthened smart agricultural practices through the establishment a farm centre dedicated to training and research.
Fawu commended the partnership between the Gombe State government and World Bank, which he said has impacted several sectors while improving the livelihoods of residents of Gombe State.
On his part, Dr Sani Jauro, the Gombe State ACReSAL Project coordinator said that no fewer than 220 enumerators drawn from the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory were being trained.
Jauro said that the third-party assessment would ensure unbiased review of the projects so far implemented by ACReSAL from independent party.
He said the assessment was part of the procedure of ACReSAL project implementation meant to review the progress and challenges of the projects by enumerators who are not involved in the day-to-day running of ACReSAL projects.
Jauro urged the enumerators to carry out their jobs with fairness and be just in their report, adding that “the credibility of the exercise lies on your shoulder.”
On her part, the World Bank Task Team Leader, Dr. Joy Agene who was represented by Mr Joseph Abang, Operations Officer with World Bank said the assessment would unravel what has changed since the commencement of the implementation of the project.
Agene urged the enumerators to be steadfast and report accurately in line with the essence of the exercise.
Over 930, 000 persons benefit from ACReSAL Projects in Gombe
Police repel attack during attempt to arrest suspected bandit leader, one killed in Kano
By; Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Kano State has repelled an attack on its personnel during an operation to arrest a suspected bandit leader in Bichi Local Government Area.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. on March 22, following a distress call from Tudun Wulli Outpost.
According to the sources, a team of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, led by ASP Abubakar Musa, acted on credible intelligence and trailed a suspected bandit leader identified as Muhammad, also known as “Senator” or “Kirchi,” who had reportedly visited Tudun Wulli village for Sallah celebrations.
“The suspect was sighted in possession of an AK-47 rifle, but upon attempt to apprehend him, he fled into a crowd,” the source said.
The situation escalated when a mob allegedly attacked the police team with stones and other dangerous weapons, injuring ASP Lawali Hamidu and damaging the windscreen of a patrol vehicle.
“In the process of tactical withdrawal, four persons sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to General Hospital, Bichi, for treatment,” the source added.
One of the victims, identified as Halima Saidu, was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor, while the others are responding to treatment.
The police personnel involved in the operation were safely evacuated, and additional security deployments have been made to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
The command said the situation has been brought under control, adding that investigations are ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
Police repel attack during attempt to arrest suspected bandit leader, one killed in Kano
Two suspects arrested over killing of cows in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives have arrested two suspects over the killing of cows and recovery of suspected stolen meat in Guma LGA of Benue State.
Sources said the suspects, identified as Sylvester Kuman and Nyitor Akaangee, both of Udei Village, were arrested at about 1:00 p.m. on March 22 following credible intelligence.
Items suspected to be cow meat were recovered from the suspects during the operation.
Authorities said efforts were ongoing to track and arrest other accomplices, while investigations had commenced to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Two suspects arrested over killing of cows in Benue
Over 930, 000 persons benefit from ACReSAL Projects in Gombe
Police repel attack during attempt to arrest suspected bandit leader, one killed in Kano
Two suspects arrested over killing of cows in Benue
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