JIGAWA GOVERNMENT DESCRIBES HOW IT PAID N500 MILLION FOR PUBLIC RESTROOMS

Babatunji Wusu –

The Jigawa State administration disclosed that N500 million was expended on the installation of improved latrines in state-wide commercial centers, medical facilities, educational institutions, and transportation hubs.

Alhaji Ibrahim Hannungiwa, the state commissioner for water resources, said this on Wednesday at a news conference in Dutse, according to Naija News.

Hannungiwa underlined that the administration has taken proactive steps to guarantee Jigawa’s status as an Open Defecation Free (ODF) state for the long run. He added that the state was dedicated to exceeding the national ODF goal by 2025.

Hannungiwa attributes the accomplishment of this milestone to the careful application of successful policies and initiatives carried out in cooperation with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

According to the Commissioner, the state has formed a committee to determine how to maintain its ODF status while guaranteeing the complete elimination of the threat.

More common public restrooms would be available at state highways and public spaces under the committee’s direction.

“The state government has made significant efforts to educate the population, particularly in remote areas, about the value of utilizing restrooms.

“Jigawa state is the first and only state so far declared Open Defecation Free in the country by UNICEF,” he stated, adding that the state’s governor, Umar Namadi, had been appointed as an ODF ambassador by the UN organization.

He mentioned that at a meeting scheduled to take place in Canada, the governor is anticipated to present a presentation on the state of affairs in Nigeria regarding the battle against the ODF.