By Abdullahi Idris, Bauchi The Bauchi State Government, in collaboration with WaterAid Nigeria, has inaugurated a climate-resilient, user-fr...
By Abdullahi Idris, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government, in collaboration with WaterAid Nigeria, has inaugurated a climate-resilient, user-friendly toilet facility to mark World Toilet Day.
Speaking at the inauguration in Bauchi, WaterAid Nigeria's Country Director, Evelyn Mere, represented by the Head of Programmes, Mr. Nanpet Chuktu, highlighted Nigeria’s dire sanitation situation, noting that over half of the population lacks access to decent toilets.
The initiative, Mere explained, aims to improve public health in Bauchi State through sustainable, climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. She described the facility’s inclusive design, which features wide doors, handrails, ramps, secured doors, separate entrances, and a nursing platform, addressing vulnerabilities worsened by climate change.
“The toilet model is a step forward in addressing climate-related sanitation challenges,” Mere said. “This partnership between WaterAid Nigeria and the Bauchi State Government demonstrates effective collaboration and aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6, which seeks to ensure clean water and sanitation for all.”
The Country Director emphasized the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s sanitation crisis and called on the Bauchi State Government to replicate the toilet model across public spaces such as markets and motor parks. She also urged governments, development partners, and stakeholders nationwide to prioritize investment, advocate for impactful policies, and scale up proven models to achieve SDG 6.
Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, represented by Deputy Governor Alhaji Auwal Jatau, lauded WaterAid International’s support and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to enhancing investments in WASH projects. He pledged that the government would sustain its efforts to promote public sanitation and hygiene while encouraging healthy practices among citizens.
The governor also tasked the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) with ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project.
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