By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe

The Gombe State Government has reiterated its determination to improve the water, sanitation and hygiene, WASH, sector and achieve an open-defecation-free state.

The commitment was reaffirmed as the Gombe State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA, under the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, SURWASH, programme, intensified sensitisation and mobilisation campaigns across Local Government Areas that have claimed Open Defecation Free, ODF, status.

The campaign commenced with a mega rally in Nafada Local Government Area, where RUWASSA engaged traditional rulers, community leaders, government officials and other stakeholders to strengthen community ownership of sanitation initiatives and sustain hygiene practices ahead of the ODF validation exercise.

The RUWASSA delegation, led by its General Manager, Engr. Mohammed Ahmed Gibrimu, FNSE, FNICE, who was represented by the Sector Lead, WASH, Yahaya Umaru, began the mobilisation at the Nafada Local Government Secretariat before proceeding to the palace of the Emir of Nafada.

Speaking at the palace, Umaru, who conveyed the General Manager’s message, commended the Emir of Nafada, HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Dadum Hamza, as well as residents and stakeholders in the LGA for their collective efforts towards improving sanitation and hygiene.

He said RUWASSA, in collaboration with the local government and other stakeholders, had continued to provide technical and institutional support towards achieving and sustaining ODF status in the area.

According to him, following Nafada LGA’s declaration of ODF status, RUWASSA had submitted the required documentation to the National Task Group on Sanitation, NTGS, for review ahead of the anticipated validation exercise.

He urged residents to sustain the momentum by maintaining proper sanitation and hygiene practices before, during and after the validation exercise.

Also speaking, the Sanitation Specialist, Alhaji Hussaini Abdulkadir, commended the people and stakeholders of Nafada for the progress recorded, stressing the need for sustained public awareness and, where necessary, effective enforcement of sanitation laws.

Earlier, in a welcome address, the Chairman of Nafada LGA, Hon. Babangida Adamu Jigawa, represented by his Deputy, Hon. Gambo Yahaya, commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his continued support for the WASH sector.

He also appreciated RUWASSA for its technical support, assuring that the local government was prepared and committed to a successful ODF validation exercise.

Responding, the Emir of Nafada, HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Dadum Hamza, welcomed the RUWASSA delegation and commended the agency for prioritising Nafada in its sanitation and hygiene interventions.

The traditional ruler noted that while attaining ODF status was a significant milestone, the ultimate objective remained the protection of the health and wellbeing of residents.

He urged the people of the emirate to support and sustain the sanitation campaign, disclosing that sanctions had already been introduced against persons who violate sanitation laws.

According to him, offenders would face a fine of N10,000, in addition to community service or heavy labour.

As part of the mobilisation exercise, the Emir directed the eight district heads in the area to appear before the gathering and provide updates on the preparedness of their respective communities for the ODF validation.

Reports and testimonies presented by traditional and community leaders indicated a high level of preparedness across the LGA and reinforced the area’s readiness for the anticipated validation exercise.

The mega rally attracted government officials, WASH stakeholders, traditional and community leaders, civil society organisations, security agencies and members of the media.

The participation of the Makadan Sarki also added traditional colour to the mobilisation, which formed part of RUWASSA’s broader efforts to strengthen sanitation and hygiene practices, consolidate ODF achievements and contribute to the realisation of a cleaner, healthier and open-defecation-free Gombe State.