Gombe outlaws open defecation
BY Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Gombe State government, on Wednesday, declared a state of emergency in water supply, hygiene and sanitation, adding that this is geared towards ending open defecation in the state.
The move, is in line with the federal government’s directives to states to key into the declaration.
The development came to the fore, when the state’s Commissioner for Information, Alhassan Ibrahim, and his Water Resources counterpart, Mijinyawa Yahaya jointly briefed newsmen, shortly after the executive council meeting held at the Exco chamber, Government House, Gombe.
On his part, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Mijinyawa Yahaya told journalists that the state of emergency has become imperative, due to disturbing statistics of water supply, hygiene and sanitation in the state.
According to the commissioner, the state’s governor also approved N250milllon for Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PE-WASH)
He mentioned 4 council areas of Funakaye, Kwami, Balanga and Dukku that will kick-off the pilot projects.
Yahaya noted that 332 borehole will be sunk in these council areas.
He equally announced that the state’s government has banned open defecation.
Yahaya stressed that the justice ministry, is presently working on the penalty to be meted to anyone that flout the ban on open defecation.
He said plans are on the pipelines to ensure that public toilets are built in critical areas like motor parks, hospitals, schools, among others, adding that enlightenment programme will be vigorously pursued for the people in the state to know the danger inherent in open defecation.
“The federal government declared a state of emergency in WASH in 2018, and asked that states also do same. This is as a result of very disturbing statistics on the existing gap between access to water and sanitation in our country. We presented the order to the governor, and he signed the order on the 26th of November and made a public declaration today; proclaiming state of emergency on water, sanitation and hygiene takes effect from today,” the water resources commissioner said.
