World Toilet Day: Bauchi Gov trains 893 entrepreneurs on improving latrines.
By Ahmed Ahmed
The Bauchi State government has trained 892 private entrepreneurs on sanitation marketing and improved latrines as well as constructed 113,092 improved toilets across the state.
The State commissioner of water resources Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu Jalam stated this while commemorating 2022 World Toilet Day “With the theme for the World Toilet Day 2022 is “Making the invisible, visible,” at weekend in Magama, Toro local government area,
He said the state government trained private entrepreneurs on sanitation marketing to improve latrine construction at households and public places like markets and motor parks.
“194 toilets business owners, (TBOs) 582 masons, and 116 toilet investors were trained on improved latrine construction both at household and public places across the state.
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“As a result of the institutional formation and capacity building to the TBOS, Masons, and Toilet investors, 113,092 improved toilets were constructed across the state,” he said.
Represented by the Director of Water Resources, Malam Adamu Ali, said, the state government is determined to work for the actualization of the SDG 6 target and overall the attainment of state-wide ODF by 2025.
“It is important to note that the state government was able to deliver 7LGAs as LGA ODF-wide, these includes Dass, Warji, Shira, Gamawa, Bogoro, Ganjuwa and Toro LGAS.
“Additional 5934 communities were delivered ODF while other communities were at different levels of becoming ODF,” he said.
Jalam noted that lack of inadequate funds from households as some of the challenges in ensuring that communities construct toilets to stop open defecation.
The Commissioner solicited the support of traditional institutions to address the situation, urging all to use improved latrines for fecal management.
In a remark, The Chief of Field Office of UNICEF Nigeria Bauchi, Dr Tushar Rane said, UNICEF has recognized the giant strides made by the people of Toro LGA to attain open defecation-free status in the state.
Dr Tushar Rane who was represented by David Damian said there is a strong linkage between the world toilet day and open defecation free,
He added that eradication of open defecation is at the heart of achieving sustainable development goals 6 of sanitation and water for all by 2030.
Dr Tushar Rane disclosed that 46% of Nigerian’s population have access to basic sanitation services with 23% practicing open defecation.
He explained that in Bauchi, access to basic sanitation services represents 60% occupying 6% position in the country, while open defecation is at 21% with Ebonyi state occupying the highest at 73%.
Tushar Rane, therefore, expressed optimism that Bauchi state government will support full implementation of the state ODF road map designed to end Open Defecation by 2025
“That would subsequently contribute to the sustainable development goals related to water, sanitation, and hygiene,” he said
Our correspondent reports that Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency RUWASSA in collaboration with UNICEF has commemorated the 2022 World Toilet Day with a call to tackle the global sanitation crisis.
