How Gombe can improve public health, tackle unemployment through faecal sludge management -Stakeholders

Some stakeholders from Gombe State have advocated for the adoption of faecal sludge management (FSM) to tackle public health issues as well as reduce unemployment amongst youths in the state.

They gave the advice in Gombe on Thursday during a one-day Media Dialogue on Accelerating FSM Strategy Adoption in Gombe State organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with Gombe State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA).

Declaring the meeting open, the Commissioner for Water, Environment, and Forest Resources, Mr Mohammed Fawu said many communities in the state rely on on-site sanitation systems such as pot latrines and septic tanks.

Fawu stated that while these systems provide basic sanitation, they pose serious public health and environmental risks when not properly managed.

He stressed that overflowing pits, indiscriminate disposal and ground water contamination were not more inconveniences, “they are threats to human dignity, water security and the health of our population.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to developing a functional, inclusive, and sustainable FSM framework for the state.

In her remarks, the Chief of Field Office (CFO), UNICEF Bauchi Field Office (BFO), Dr Nuzhat Rafique stated that the aimed of the engagement was to sensitise media stakeholders in Gombe State towards pushing for the adoption of FSM in the state.

Rafique represented by Nanbam Michael, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Officer, UNICEF, Bauchi State Field Office said that the dialogue was part of efforts at accelerating the attainment of open defecation free in Gombe State.

She stated that UNICEF in partnership with the state’s RUWASSA had domesticated the “the Clean Nigeria, Use a toilet” campaign in Gombe State, aimed at pushing for an ODF Gombe State and in all its communities.

She said that it is possible to attain the ODF status in Gombe State just as Jigawa State had done and that UNICEF and its partners at the state level were mobilising people to use the toilet and improve toilet.

She said that UNICEF was already looking ahead to ensure that while people were being mobilised to use the toilets, “and the question why we are here is when this toilets are filled up, now what?

“Jigawa is now ODF and the major challenge there is where to offload the toilet that has been filled up? What can of FSM do we have?

“Now as a state, Gombe has an edge to start preparing for a well FSM before we get there; this is why we are sensitising the media to take up the story on FSM.”
She said that with the ongoing efforts at mobilising communities through the Community Led Total Sanitation approach, she expressed hope that by the end of 2025, there should be communities in the state claiming ODF.

While making his presentation, Prof. Wilson Danbature of the Department of Chemical Sciences, Gombe State University who was a facilitator at the dialogue urged the state government, stakeholders and investors to harness the value chain in FSM.

Danbature said that FSM if properly harnessed had the potential to create numerous jobs across the sanitation value chain, from desludging and treatment plant operations to resource recovery and reuse.

He said that with the growing population and campaign on against open defecation resulting in a large number of toilets relying on on-site sanitation systems, FSM was crucial for addressing public health and environmental concerns while also offering economic opportunities.

“With stakeholders coming in to establish faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP), it would help improve public health, sanitation, boost revenue for the state and create employment for youths,” he said.

For Dr Abubakar Lumumba, the Sector Lead WASH RUWASSA said proper FSM was critical to addressing concerns on public health as well as improving sanitation.

Lumumba, however called for attitudinal change to address the menace of open defecation in the state, adding that not community in the state has been confirmed ODF.

For Khalid Umar, the Gombe State chairman, Public Convenience Maintenance, who runs a commercial public convenience said he had been making money from the business for the past three decades.

Umar said he rakes in between N7000 and N4000 on daily basis which had helped in cater for his family while also engaging youths to manage his facilities around Gombe Main market.

He urged stakeholders to invest in the business while calling for support to enable them manage the faecal sludge and desludge them properly.

How Gombe can improve public health, tackle unemployment through faecal sludge management -Stakeholders

Gombe ACReSAL distributes clean stoves to communities

The Gombe State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project has distributed energy-efficient cooking stoves to communities around the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe.

The beneficiary communities are those where erosion control projects had earlier been implemented.

Speaking during the distribution exercise on Wednesday in Gombe, the ACReSAL State Project Coordinator, Dr Sani Jauro, said the initiative was part of efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Jauro explained that the stoves would help reduce dependence on traditional, inefficient cooking methods, which contribute to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.

He added that the stoves were designed to use less fuel and emit fewer pollutants, thereby reducing carbon emissions and improving environmental conditions in the affected communities.

According to him, the initiative aligns with the commitment of Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe to tackle deforestation and promote a holistic approach to addressing climate change.

“We have supported each of the nine communities with 100 pieces each and included some poultry houses and fish ponds owners with a total of 975 stoves.

“We are doing this to support the communities around FCE and also sensitise them against tree felling and on climate change issues,” the coordinator said.

Jauro said the tree planting campaign under ACReSAL had recorded great success, with millions of trees planted across the state.

He noted that the distribution of energy-efficient stoves was part of efforts to protect the planted trees and preserve the environment.

He urged residents to support the administration of Gov. Inuwa Yahaya by planting trees during the wet season as part of collective efforts to fight climate change.

According to him, ACReSAL is currently providing free tree seedlings to communities willing to engage in tree planting.

Earlier, the Shamakin Gombe, Alhaji Ibrahim Babayo, commended ACReSAL for the intervention, saying the stoves would benefit residents of the nine target communities and help reduce carbon emissions.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Sa’adatu Nuhu, a resident of Arawa community in Gombe Local Government Area, expressed gratitude for the support.

She said the energy-efficient stove would help her save money and protect her health from the harmful smoke associated with firewood use.

“Many of us are poor and cannot buy this stove, but today here we are being given without paying anything; this will save our money, since it is energy-efficient and saves cost of cooking.

“It will also reduce our reliance on fire-woods and protect our eyes from smokes, which usually, was beginning to pose health risk for us,” she said.

Gombe ACReSAL distributes clean stoves to communities

Alliance, a rescue mission, not for power-grabbing – Gombe coalition

A coalition of opposition parties in Gombe State has formally adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Unveiling the platform in Gombe on Tuesday, Mr Idris Umar, a former Minister of Transportation and leader of the coalition in the state, said that the coalition’s aim was to rescue Nigerians and residents of Gombe State from “APC-induced hardship and pain.”
Umar said the coalition was not created to grab power, but to promote good governance and improve residents’ standard of living in Gombe State.

He explained that members of various opposition parties aligned with a national coalition to adopt ADC as a platform for the 2027 elections.

“We are unveiling this partnership in Gombe, built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to put Nigeria first,” Umar said.
He noted that the journey took 18 months of dialogue with political stakeholders, leading to ADC being chosen as the preferred platform.

“We are determined to recruit new members and work closely with ADC leadership in Gombe to ensure the party’s success,” he added.

Umar said the coalition had been tasked with expanding membership to help unseat APC in Gombe and across Nigeria.
A committee chaired by former Gombe deputy governor, Mr John Yoriyo, assisted by Shehu Adamu-Fura, was formed to drive registration.

“We will strengthen the party and open our doors to more members ready to rescue Gombe and Nigeria from present challenges,” Umar stated.

He emphasised the role of opposition in democracy, saying without it, national progress would be impossible.
Umar, a former Senator for Gombe Central, said coalition efforts are key to lifting Nigerians from poverty and securing a brighter future.

“Our focus is to move Nigeria forward, ease citizens’ lives, raise living standards and restore national security,” he said.
He urged youths to shun violence and thuggery, stressing the coalition promotes peace and democratic advancement.

In his address, state party chairman Auwal Barde praised members and urged unity to ensure ADC’s success in Gombe come 2027.