NEWSAN partners Gombe house committee, Agency on Sanitation
Chima Azubuike
The Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), on Tuesday visited Gombe State house of assembly on advocacy.
NEWSAN is a coordinating network of over 300 Civil Society Organisations, Non Governmental organisations and Community based organisations on Water Sanitation and Hygiene, which cuts across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Speaking during the advocacy, State Coordinator Dr. Sanni Jauro, said NEWSAN was formed out of necessity for an inclusion into WASH programme and as a body affiliated to the African regional body (ANEW).
He noted that ANEW is also a member of the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS).
Represented by the State Secretary, Abdullahi Hussaini, who stressed that the group’s mandate is to advocate for inclusion and access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for all Nigerians, especially Gombe residents.
Jauro said, “NEWSAN members are expert in various fields of WASH and over the years have trained facilitators, consultants and technical support personnel towards achieving this goal.
“We are here to solicit for your support and inclusion for line budget towards ending open defecation in the state between 2025 and 2030. Gombe State is at the centre of the North East, with migrants from Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and other neighbouring states and there are inadequate facilities. Hence, the need to advocate for collaboration in order to achieve this target.”
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2018 declared state of emergency in the WASH sector with the National Action Plan aimed at revitalizing the sector towards ensuring that all Nigerians have access to sustainable and safely managed WASH services by 2030 in compliance with SDG 6.
“We are aware of the various efforts and successes achieved in the sector Federal, State, and Local Government levels and we see the need to consolidate on the various levels of attainment of the WASH sector in Gombe State, in order to create opportunity for further development of the sector in the state,” Jauro added.
On his part, Deputy Chairman on Appropriation and the Chairman Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs house committee Shuaibu Adamu, lauded the collaboration, While urging the team to remind him as at when due to pay special focus on WASH as the house gears towards passing the budget to law.
He noted that the house, along side the administration of Governor Muhammadu Yahaya had shown commitment in mitigating the challenges of water.
Adamu said, “This Government alongside the legislative arm are in support of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
“Since it is time for budget we will make sure we include Water Sanitation and Hygiene in various ministries so as to minimize if not eradicate open defecation to have safe and clean drinking water and also safe environment for our people. We are ever ready to partner with you to achieve what you want to achieve.”
Similarly, the team visited Gombe State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), where the General Manager Engr. Abdurraqib Sa’eed, expressed delight at the collaboration with NEWSAN, noting that he would ensure the partnership succeeds.
“Whatever it will be for us to collaborate with your organisation do it and we will give you the maximum cooperation that is expected of us,” Sa’eed said.
Also speaking, Desk Officer WASH/Open defecation Saadu Yuguda, explained that RUWASSA has two major targets which seeks to ensure the wellbeing of residents.
Yuguda said, “The SDG target goal 6 as well as the open defecation society by 2025 in Nigeria. Gombe wants to make it a reality. We want to ensure that safe drinking water is available and we are determined to achieve this.
“In Gombe State we have over 6,250 rural communities at the moment I want to believe some of them are open defecation b but we can’t justify that by documentation. Recently, I told my boss about the need to establish STGS and start a process of certifying open defecation.
