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Nigeria, Others To Access $5m Sanitation Grant
Nigeria is among the African countries to access the five-million-dollar grant to support sanitation and hygiene activities in their countries, a source from the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS) has said.
The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) based in Geneva had raised 60 million dollars to promote hygiene, raise awareness, as well as create demand for sanitation activities in developing countries.
The source who pleaded anonymity told newsmen on Sunday in Abuja that the grant was to support sanitation activities for a period of five years.
He said that the visit of Mr Barry Jackson, the Programme Manager of Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) of WSSCC, to Nigeria early this year was to ascertain the country’s readiness to access the fund.
The source explained that the purpose of GSF was to support national effort to help larger number of poor people to acquire basic sanitation and adopt best hygiene practices.
“The fund only operates in countries where it has the explicit approval and welcome of the national government.
“It works by pooling financial contribution from donor government and other sources in a global trust fund and then distributes funds in selected countries through an executing agency of the NTGS which will manage the process’’ he said.
According to him, Nigeria is making progress in accessing the fund as it has just completed a sectoral review and sanitation gap analysis, done by an independent consultant.
He said Nigeria had moved to a process of developing the country proposal to accessing the fund, adding that two consultants had been contacted to develop it.
“The two consultants are Mr Yemi Adeleye and Dr (Mrs) Comfort Olayiwole and they have started working, hopefully we should be able to access the fund by the end of the year, if there is no delay.
“The grant will be used to support the implementation of national water and sanitation policy, organising roundtable conferences and media charts.
“A mid-term review will be done to evaluate the success of the programme.
“We expect that the fund will be used for the promotion, development of sanitation and hygiene work, on the software components.
“Rather than paying for the construction of toilets, it is better for households to be motivated to construct their toilets,” the source said.
Meanwhile, four countries in Africa and three from Asia are to benefit in the first round while Nigeria tops the list of second round beneficiaries.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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