Bauchi Sets Up Committee To Review WASH Policy

The Bauchi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Abdulrazaq Nuhu Zaki, has inaugurated a Technical Working Committee (TWG) to review and study the State Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Policy in accordance with the Harmonized Water Law, which came into effect in 2023.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony during the dissemination of the Bauchi State Water Sector Law, which was held in Bauchi yesterday, Zaki said that clean water, adequate sanitation, and proper hygiene are fundamental to the health and prosperity of the people.

The commissioner, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Samaila Tela, urged the committee to carefully study the law as it is, find out the gaps and see how to fix the gaps to accommodate other WASH services that are not included in order to carry everyone along.

According to him, children would no longer have to miss classes due to illness, and enhanced economic growth through better agricultural productivity, saying that the WASH law would help reduce social inequalities by ensuring that everyone has access to clean water and sanitation, regardless of their socio-economic status.

Also speaking, the country director WaterAid Nigeria, Evelyn Merez commended the state government for creating an enabling environment for the implementation of issues and policies of WASH.

She assured that WaterAid Nigeria will continue to be supportive of the efforts of the government in ensuring that the policy implementation of WASH protocols succeeded in the state.

Represented by Head of Policy, Advocacy and Communication, Kolawole Banwo, she expressed satisfaction with the process put in place by the state government in ensuring the effective implementation of the policy.

On his part, the programme manager of Women Development Association for Self Sustenance (WODASS), Magaji Barde, described the inauguration of the committee as a welcome achievement which will further boost WASH activities in the state assuring that WODASS will continue to partner relevant agencies in promoting WASH services in the state.

Also speaking on behalf of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the WASH sector, programme manager of Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), Nichole Kankani lauded the WaterAid Nigeria for supporting the state in all ramifications for a seamless development of WASH protocols.

Kankani assured that the CSOs and NGOs working in the WASH Sector will continue to be active and supportive in the implementation of the WASH policies for a healthy environment.

He added that the review of the WASH policy by the TWG will be a turn around in the attainment of a healthy environment throughout the state.