By: Sani Bala Karo
Penultimate weeks, Kano State has made a historic outing at North West Zonal Meeting of Agencies saddle with responsibility of providing water, sanitation and hygiene services (WASH) in the seven states. During the meeting Kano State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) under Engr. Shamwilu Abdulkadir Isa surprised everyone in the hall by announcing 20 LGAs certified as free of open defecation, all at once, while six others were expecting certification soon. These are Gezawa, Kiru Rano, Dawakin Kudu, Albasu, Shanono, Bagwai, the rest are Ungoggo, Gaya Ajingi Gabasawa, Kura and Gari. Others were Dawakin Tofa, Rimin Gado, Minjibir, Kumbotso Madobi, Karaye and Takai. The remaining six awaiting certification were Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Sumaila, Bebeji, Bunkure and Tofa.
Those who are familiar with WASH matters in the country especially the aspect of open defecation on our national dailies may recall that Nigeria joined the United Nations’ global campaign against open defecation in line with goal 6 of Sustainable Development of the UN.
Nigeria came to light in this practice in 2018 by taking second highest after India in open defecation in the world.
In 2019 Nigeria came on top of the list, displacing India from number 2 to number 1 hence leading the world in open defecation.
The federal government, in a frantic move to address the menace declared a state of emergency on open defecation and similarly launched a campaign machinery known as *Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet* under the office of the Vice President, who chairs the National Steering Committee to bring up a practicable roadmap towards achieving ODF by the year 2025.
Many states across the federation were able to key in to the campaign with some making remarkable achievements such as Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, who are now now adjudge to be the leading champions in the country. Jigawa had already distinguished itself as the first state to attain statewide open defecation free, followed by Katsina State with 30 LGAs remaining only four. Kaduna was trailing behind with 10 LGAs before Kano State in its own style of driving the agenda displaced Kaduna from 3rd position.
One may ask, how come? From my findings, observers in the contest noted that while all the winning states were able to make it in several phases, over the years, Kano State swiftly made her own submission in one phase. This was corroborated by the National Coordinator for Clean Nigeria Campaign secretariat, Mrs. Chizoba Opara who stated during the Review session of the meeting that, “this is the first time a single state presented such a large number of LGAs for certication in ODF.” With this number, Kano State now occupies 3rd position after Jigawa and Katsina.
According to Mrs. Chizoba Opara, there are 148 certified LGAs in the country and interestingly, 103 were in North West, while the remaining 48 spread across the six zones, she said.
It was in recognition of this wonderful feat, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf was honoured with *Great Achiever of the Year Award* by the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, while the certified 20 LGAs received their respective Award by the Council Chairmen.
Governor Abba Kabir, who received the Award through his Deputy, His Excellency, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo describe the gesture as a great pride for him and people of the state. He appreciate the stakeholders for recognizing the state performance in the fight against open defecation and reiterated the administration’s resolve to make the state free of open defecation by 2026 as they are more committed to better funding in the sector, strengthen sanitation laws and regulations as well as deploying sanitary inspectors across the state. Kudos to His Excellency indeed.
Having said all these, it is time now to celebrate the Unsong Heroes. I personally believe that achieving such a feat, apart from having the political will, requires efficient bureaucracy and responsive citizenry. And permit me to say, Governor Abba Kabir is blessed with a competent hand in the person of Engr. Shamwilu Abdulkadir Isa, Managing Director of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and his team.
This man came on board in 2023 without any single LGA in the state certified as ODF, that was four years after the declaration of state of emergency on open defecation in Nigeria.
Interestingly, states like Jigawa and Katsina at that time, have gone far in the race. As Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, he mapped out a new strategic plan, worked assiduously to achieve his targets. Around first half of last year, I remember, almost all the LGAs we are talking about now were validated by the National Task Group on Sanitation. Aside from ODF project, Engr. Shamwilu has commissioned about 50 water schemes in rural and peri-urban areas. I learned that most of boreholes were solar powered, his own style of doing the best in line with global trend of making water more accessible and lot easier to the needy communities.
Further more, the Agency also trained boreholes technicians and artisans for repairs and maintenance of the water schemes in line with VLOM initiative. In area of hygiene promotion, Kano State RUWASA boast of seasoned officers at managerial and field levels in community mobilization.
This workforce along with sanitation officers form the bedrock of WASH programme and contributed immensely to saving lives in communities where water related diseases posed a great threat.
Another group worth mentioning here also comprised Planners and Information officers who collects, collate and organize data as well as manage information for guidance and public enlightenment.
To mention but just a few, in fact, all staff in various cadre deserve a recognition in this regard.
Talking about responsive citizenry now, the state is lucky to have in Kano people a civil and accommodating communities. It is a known fact that wherever the field officers visit or step in communities and households they are well received and listen to, the feedback would be appreciable and encouraging as a result of the behavioral change among the people.
I have seen this, when Engr. Shamwilu led the participants to a town called Tofa in Gezawa LG on a field visit. Approximately, the town has about 200 households, but every nook and cranny of it was very clean and tidy, the inhabitants, especially the children also looked neat and accommodating. The town has among others, one standard sanitation facility built by USAID, many handpump boreholes spread all over parts in addition to one solar powered water scheme for large scale consumption.
I remember one interesting scene when Engr. Shamwilu was invited to address the gathering, the moment Shamwilu alighted, the inhabitants cheerfully chanted in Hausa *Mai Rijiya ya zo* Meaning the borehole man has come again. I asked an elderly man standing by my side, “so you people know the man”. He answered in affirmative and adds that Shamwilu is known in the town over many years as a young officer in charge of drilling and maintenance of the water schemes around the area and beyond.
This is to tell you how deep the Agency has gone in its relationship with grassroots.
So in my opinion, credit of the feat Kano State RUWASA has achieved in the fight against open defecation so far, could also be shared with communities the agency has been working with in appreciation of their cooperation and understanding of the WASH Programme, to encourage the remaining 19 LGAs waiting to come over, for the state to become totally free of open defecation.
