The United Nations Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (UN-SFH) has awarded a $2.5 million grant to WaterAid Nigeria to enhance sanitation and hygiene infrastructure in Bauchi State.
The 30-month initiative, titled “Accelerating Inclusive Sanitation and Hygiene Economy in Nigeria,” will be implemented in four local government areas of the state.
During the launch of the project in Abuja, WaterAid Nigeria’s country director, Evelyn Mere, noted that only 60% of Bauchi State residents have basic access to sanitation, with hygiene coverage lagging at just 19%, based on the 2021 National Outcome Routine Mapping for WASH.
The project aims to tackle these deficiencies by providing safe water and sanitation facilities in communities prone to cholera outbreaks.
It will also create economic opportunities for women and youth in the sanitation sector.
“This initiative will promote innovative, sustainable, and inclusive hygiene practices, catering to the needs of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, while addressing recurring cholera outbreaks,” Mere said.
Targeted areas for implementation include Tafawa-Balewa, Misau, and Jama local government areas. To ensure the project’s success, Mere called for advisory support from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, with coordination through the National Task Group on Sanitation at the state level.
The project will be executed in partnership with the Bauchi State Government, local agencies such as RUWASSA and BASEPA, community leaders, and civil society groups.
UN-SFH Country Fund Manager, Aline Pawele, highlighted the economic potential of Nigeria’s sanitation sector, which is projected to reach $12 billion by 2030. However, she expressed concern over Nigeria’s progress toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 on sanitation and hygiene.
“Business as usual is not working. We need radical changes in approach, partnerships, and investments to meet the needs of communities,” Pawele stated.
Funded by the governments of the Netherlands and Switzerland, the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund supports market-driven approaches to sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, officially launched the project, emphasizing its potential to transform sanitation and hygiene practices in Bauchi State and serve as a model for other regions in Nigeria.
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