RUWASSA trains stakeholders on accelerating safely managed sanitation in Kaduna
In efforts towards accelerating Safely Managed Sanitation (SMS), the Kaduna State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) has trained no fewer than 60
stakeholders cut across government, development partners, civil society, media, and private sector.
The training was organised in collaboration with UNICEF and Directorate General of International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Netherland Government through the ASWA III Project (Accelerating Sanitation and Water for All – Phase III).
The workshop aimed to ensure the state was on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2, with Kaduna making progress but needing more determination.
News Men report that although Kaduna State has made progress, with 10 out of 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) declared Open-Defecation-Free (ODF), some LGAs still experience widespread open defecation.
The Kaduna State Government had pledged to achieve ODF status in 2025, where progress must accelerate tenfold to meet the commitment.
In a communique issued to newsmen at the last day of the four-day training on Thursday in Kaduna, the benefit of SMS was recognised
The stakeholders also agreed on steps to fast-track its provision, emphasising policy alignment, strategic financing, and interagency collaboration.
The communique was signed by; Sadiq Mammam-Lagos, the
Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government, Mr David Damian
WASH Officer, UNICEF Kaduna, Mubarak Ladan, the D-G, Kaduna RUWASSA ,Jafaru Ahmed, Chapman, Lere LGA and Muhuyideen Umar, Chairman, Kagarko LGA.
Other signatories to the communique were;
Dr Yusuf Arrigasiyyu, the MD, Kaduna State Environmental Protection Agency, Kabiru Rufai, the
MD, Kaduna State Water Corporation, Kabiru lbrahim MFls Representatives, Mrs Rahila Baita
CSOs Representatives and Dr Sunday Kazahshii from ABU Zaria.
The stakeholders agreed on a joint problem-solving initiative among all the relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to support Kaduna’s push to make all 23 LGAs ODF.
The stakeholders expressed a shared commitment to mainstream gender equity, climate resilience, and sustainability in all sanitation programming.
The stakeholders.also called for the establishment of a sanitation pool fund, strengthening media engagement and private sector engagement to support sanitation efforts.
They equally called on the state government to designate and formalise faecal waste disposal sites in each LGA.
They reaffirmed their commitment to align Kaduna State sanitation policies with the National Safely Managed Sanitation Agenda.
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The stakeholders acknowledged the effort of the Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State on sanitation and hygiene commitment and support.
They, however, appealed to Sani to approve the timely release of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Units’ monthly operational funds.
They emphasised the need for a conducive environment to attract private sector investments into Kaduna’s sanitation economy.
Speaking to newsmen at the sideline after signing the communique, David Damien, UNICEF’s WASH Officer, Kaduna Field Office, expressed delight in the workshop’s outcome, highlighting the ASWA project’s funding by the Netherlands Government.
He explained that the ASWA project wad being implemented in Lere and Kagarko LGAs of Kaduna State, which were self-selected through a competitive bidding process.
Damian said that the workshop adopted key resolutions including policy alignment, interagency collaboration, and mainstreaming cross-cutting issues.
Earlier, the Commissioner, Kaduna State Ministry for Local Governments, Sadiq Mamman-Lagos,
reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to achieving SMS in the state.
Mamman-Lagos, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Mahmud Lawal, recognised the critical importance of sanitation in improving the health and well-being of the citizens
“We are determined to ensure that our state makes significant progress in this area,” he said
The commissioner pledged to align the state’s sanitation policies with the national safely managed sanitation agenda and to provide the necessary support and resources to achieve the goals.
He acknowledged the progress made so far, with 10 out of 23 LGAs declared ODF, expressing his determination to build on the momentum.
He, however, recognised that there was still much work to be done, pledging to accelerate efforts to achieve ODF status in all 23 LGAs.
Mamman-Lagos called on all the stakeholders to join them in the effort and to work together to ensure that Kaduna’s residents have access to safe, dignified, and sustainable sanitation services.