Environment
400 Benue Communities,Open Defecation-Free -UNICEF
UNICEF, in collaboration with the Network for Civil Society on Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), has declared more than 400 communities in Benue Open Defecation-Free (ODF).
Programme Manager of NEWSAN, Mr Shem Adah said this in Abuja recently in an interview with newsmen.
Adah said the UNICEF and NEWSAN made the declaration after the agencies had carried out a verification exercise in the communities.
He explained that the exercise, which was tagged: Third party verification on Open Defecation-Free certification, was carried out in collaboration with the States Task Group on Sanitation and Local Government Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Department.
He said the exercise was carried out to certify communities that were open defecation-free in Benue, adding that four local governments were selected for the exercise.
Adah said the councils are Takar, Ogbadigbo, Oju and Kanshisha local government areas.
“Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), in collaboration with UNIICEF and States Task Group on Sanitation and local government -WASH department, carried out a third party verification on ODF certification.
“That is, certified communities that are open defecation-free in Benue State; and out of these communities, four LGAs were selected and these are Takar, Ogbadigbo, Oju and Kanshisha local governments were selected for the verification exercise.
“Now in Benue State, 755 communities were reported to be open-defecation free. Out of these 750 that were reported, verification was carried out and out of this verification, 55 per cent were actually open defecation-free.
“And then the others were also trying; out of it, we were able to go ahead to sensitise on those communities and build more awareness in these communities that are not open defecation free that their sanitation practices have not measured up to expectations.“
Adah also told newsmen that the project which took place in Benue started with a debriefing in Otukpo to enlighten the stakeholders on the guidelines and objectives of the exercise.
According to him, the Community-led Total Sanitation approach is the method used to achieve the ODF status, which enables a community to take ownership of the sanitation facilities provided.
He added that the facilities that were provided included both sanitation hardware and software.
“The community-led total sanitation approach has to do with communities taking ownership of sanitation facilities and sanitation in their communities.
“And these also include both hardware and software, hardware in the area of borehole and software in the area of sensitisation.
“Behavioural change, practices in the area of sanitation and how has it replicated in their health; how has it also increased their yields in time of farming and in terms of commercial life of the community.
The Lagos State Government has commenced installation of new pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute water intake stations.
The Tide source reports that the project is aimed at increasing water production, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to potable water across the state.
A statement issued by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) over the weekend said the project was approved and funded by the state government.
It said the installation was part of the rehabilitation of the Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station under Lots 1, 2 and 3.
According to LWC, the rehabilitation is designed to modernise water production facilities, strengthen operations and improve public water supply.
The Network of Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Nigeria (FEMinWASH) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) are set to partner on gender-responsive systems strengthening, capacity development and WASH initiatives.
The partnership was proposed during a courtesy visit by a FEMinWASH delegation, led by its President and Convener, Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, in Abuja.
Onabolu, who conveyed greetings from FEMinWASH Patron, retired Engineer Ebele Okeke, commended Walson-Jack for upholding the Federal Civil Service’s EPIC values of Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred leadership.
She praised the HoCSF’s efforts in advancing gender inclusion in WASH and the civil service, including the development of the National Gender in Water Resources Mainstreaming Policy and mentoring programmes for women leaders.
Onabolu also highlighted the INSPIRE (Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women) programme, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and inclusion.
She said FEMinWASH was seeking a formal partnership and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the OHCSF to support INSPIRE, WASH advocacy, capacity building and the institutionalisation of Gender-Responsive Budgeting across the Federal Civil Service.
Responding, Walson-Jack commended the diverse expertise of the FEMinWASH delegation, noting that professionals in WASH, water resources, environment, public health, town planning and education were critical to addressing development challenges.
She welcomed the proposed partnership, assuring that the OHCSF was ready to collaborate with FEMinWASH on civil service strengthening and WASH-related initiatives.
The meeting agreed to further engagements with Dr Garba, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), and Ms Funke Baruwa, Lead for Partnerships at the OHCSF, to advance the collaboration.
The visit ended with a photo session and exchange of gifts between both parties.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the community on the massive turn-out for sanitation.
He also appreciated the chairman and his team for their support to the ministry.
Rotimi-Akodu urged the community to continue to support the council and by extension, the government, by participating in the exercise and engaging in proper disposal of wastes.
“We have heard your appeal, and I assure you that Lagos government will do something about it.
“Although we have PSP operators in this axis, maybe they were assigned to other areas.
“However, I will ensure something is done and residents will observe the improvement.” the advisor said.
Also, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LASMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that waste management was a collective exercise.
Gbadegbesin, therefore, appealed to the residents to always dispose of their wastes properly.
“You must bag your waste at home. Make sure you have a bin to keep the waste for few days, even if there is a delay by the PSP operator.
“Make sure you pay your PSP operator on time because there is no way they can provide that service if you are not paying them regularly.
The Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Go Green Nigeria Foundation, , has called for more stringent government efforts toward prohibition of illegal sand mining in Rivers, following erosion threats.
The founder of NGO Dr John Babington made the call on last Monday in Umuechem, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, to commemorate the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.
Babington, who sensitised the community on dangers associated with crude sand mining, donated some trees as part of efforts to promote tree planting and revitalisation of the altered mangrove ecosystem.
During an interactive session with the community, the environmental expert identified various concerns and commended residents for their willingness to work together to end the excavation.
He, however, dismissed the notion that illegal sand mining was due to poverty and unemployment, saying, ”the business is a capital intensive venture that could only be operated by a rich cartel.”
He said that though the business might have provided menial jobs for few youths, it had not in any manner addressed poverty.
Presently, the landscape is altered with an artificial river encroaching a major access road and threatening public safety,” he said.
Also speaking, a senior Chief in the community, Chief Gilbert Otamiri commended the NGO for the initiative and promised to collaborate with them.
Gilbert, however, urged the government to tackle unemployment which, he said, was a major promoter of the illegal excavation
Also speaking, The Community Development Chairman (CDC) Mr Agbam Mgbechi thanked the group for the sensitisation and donation of trees.
He called on the government and concerned induviduals to emulate the group by making efforts towards salvaging the area from further environmental damage.
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