Bauchi LG gets 2.5m dollars funding to Boost WASH sector, sustain ODF
By Samuel Luka, Bauchi
Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi has earned 2.5m dollar funding from WaterAid Nigeria for the improvement of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in order to sustain its current Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
The Executive Chairman of the Local Government, Alhaji Mahmood Baba Maji stated this in his office while giving update on the sustainability plan on Open Defecation Free (ODF) status of the LG on Tuesday.
He explained that Bauchi LG was recently identified and selected as one among four LGs to be funded by WaterAid.
“We attended a project launch under the federal ministry of water resources and Bauchi LG is one of the beneficiary to get funding amounting to 2.5 million dollars, this is a very good development for Bauchi LG”, he said.
Mahmood who promised to work closely with the donor agencies to sustain ODF status, further assured of the LG’s commitment and dedication to improve on the sustainability plan of the ODF.
According to him, the project launch from collaboration with WaterAid will give an opportunity for accelerating inclusive Sanitation and Hygiene economy in Bauchi state.
He said, in order to sustain the ODF status, he has distributed some Needs Assessment to councillors for them to bring out some of the critical needs of the people from the ward level.
He added that the Local Government under his stewardship consider it very important to construct new sanitation and hygiene facilities as well renovate the existing ones in an effort to properly manage faecal Sludge.
“These are some of the things we will do to manage faecal Sludge and we feel also that other stakeholders can now come in to ensure adequate opportunity in terms of business and investment is enhance collectively in the area of sanitation and hygiene in Bauchi LG”, he said.
Alhaji Mahmood who enjoined the people to cooperate with the government to ensure sustainability, said without cooperation the desired goal cannot be achieved.
The Chairman said that doors of the Local Government is always open to donors and partners for collaboration to improve on sustaining the ODF status.
Mahmood who commended Governor Bala Mohammed for working tirelessly to improve the welfare and health condition of the people of Bauchi state, mulls laws that will punish those who practice open defecation within the local government.
“We feel it is important to look at our existing laws because we have to adopt the strategy for punishment for offenders because those people that are found wanting just to go around and defecate anyhow, so we have to strengthen our laws to that respect” he said.