The Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu FNSE, FAEng has called on all sub-national Governments to prioritise investment in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services as this is very strategic to development and improvement of the welfare of the populace.
Engr. Adamu made this call today, Thursday 8th July 2021 in Sule Tankarkar Local Government Area of Jigawa State during the celebration/presentation of Certificates to fourteen (14) Open Defecation Free (ODF) Local Government Areas.
Engr. Adamu elaborately commended Jigawa State Government for being among the progressive States in the implementation of WASH activities with declaration of State of Emergency in the WASH Sector by the Governor of Jigawa State, His Excellency, Alh. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, prompt enactment of appropriate legislation against Open Defecation and clear evidence of budgetary commitment to WASH programmes. These efforts he noted has yielded laudable results with the achievement of 14 O D F LGAs namely: Birnin-Kudu, Buji, Gagarawa, Gwiwa, Kiyawa, Roni, Sule-Tankarkar, Dutse, Auyo, Birniwa, Kafin Hausa, Taura, Guri, Jahun made up of over 5,300 communities and an estimated population of about 3million persons.
He noted that already, Jigawa State is among the leading States in the provision of water supply at 92% coverage and expressed his optimism that the same progress can be achieved in respect of sanitation and hygiene in the near future.
The Minister reminded his teeming audience that most of the priority areas of President Buhari’s Administration which include enhancing social inclusion and poverty reduction, expanding business growth and entrepreneurship; expanding access to quality education, affordable healthcare and productivity, are impacted in one way or the other by access to WASH services.
Engr. Adamu therefore enjoined the Government and people of Jigawa State to keep up the good effort in sustaining the results so far and work towards achieving a state-wide ODF status in the not too distant future.
The Governor of Jigawa State, His Excellency, Alh. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar in his speech thanked President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government for the massive support given to Jigawa State especially in the WASH Sector and attributed the feat achieved in the 14 ODF LGAs to excellent team work of his administration.
Earlier in his welcome speech, the Honourable Commissioner of Water Resources, Jigawa State, Honourable Ibrahim Garba Hannun Giwa stated that the remaining thirteen LGAs will Insha Allah be celebrated before the end of Year 2022 and thus make Jigawa State the first ODF State in the country.
The highpoint of the celebration was the presentation of Open Defecation Free (ODF) Certificates to the Chairmen of the 14 LGAs and the commissioning of Sule Tankarkar Township Roads by the Honourable Minister.
Kenechukwu Offie (Mrs.)
Press and Public Relations Unit.
8th July, 2021.
