By Sani Bala Karo
As the 2030 universal deadline for ending open defecation steadily approaches, the Kano State Government has set up a machinery to deliver the remaining 8 Local Governments still awaiting validation to achieve state wide open defecation free status.
The Managing Director of Kano State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Engr. Shamwilu Abdulƙadir Isa disclosed this at a meeting of stakeholders and partners in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the state.
He said, this was in fulfilment of the National Protocols on ending Open Defecation across states of the federation under Executive Order 009 of 2019.
Engr. Shamwilu stressed that Kano State has so far recorded success in 36 local governments attributing bulk of the success to the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. The remaining 8 LGAs mostly in metropolitan were Dala, Fagge, Gwale, Garun Malam, Nassarawa, Makoɗa, Municipal and Tarauni which the Managing Director described as more complex due to boundaries factor and dense population.
It was in view of this, he added, a tight collaboration among stakeholders is needed to achieve the ultimate goal.
Engr. Shamwilu noted that most of our diseases now were water related, as a result of issues in sourcing, transportation and storage, he therefore called on communities to imbibe the culture of good sanitation at their own levels as sanitation, according to him, is never expensive to anyone. That’s why, he said, we use, for example, variety of soap in cleaning traditionally and modern ways.
He charged the stakeholders to get prepared for community engagements across the affected local governments next week.
In a goodwill message, a UNICEF Consultant Mr. Sam Atta, expressed delight at the high attendance of stakeholders in the meeting and congratulates Kano State Government for going thus far despite having the highest number of local governments in the country, adding that, “if we push together, we can achieve it.” Mr.Atta who represented the State Office Chief also announced the UNICEF intention to support Dala, Gwale, Garun Malam and Municipal LGAs projects to enable the state meet the target.
Stakeholders present at the meeting include State ministries of Rural and Community Development, Ministry of Local Government, Water Resources and Environment, Education, Refuse Management Board as well as Market Traders Union, NURTW, Hisbah and KAROTA Boards.
