The Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Coordinator of Gamawa Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Mohammed Majaji, has disclosed that 67 communities in the local government area lack toilet facilities.
Majaji disclosed this on Thursday during a Vote4 WASH plede card development meeting, organised by the Network for Water and Sanitation of Nigeria (NEWSAN) with support from Water Aid Nigeria and Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation HSBC.
The meeting, which drew stakeholders from Zaki and Gamawa local government areas of the state, was aimed at sensitizing the electorate in the Bauchi Northern Senatorial zone on their rights to demand for improved water and hygiene services from their leaders seeking various elective offices by using the power of their votes.
Majaji stressed the need for the construction of smart toilets in public places such as schools, markets, motor parks and hospitals in Gamawa council to encourage people to cultivate the culture of using toilets, thereby discouraging open defecation.
He said, “There should be more public private partnership between the government and market associations for the construction of more latrines and smart toilets in communities.
“This will go a long way to improve hygiene and reduce contacting infectious diseases,” he said.
Also in thier separate submissions of WASH priorities during the meeting, the Chairman of Gamawa Ward Development Community, Ahmed Abba Juji, and WASH Coordinator, Zaki council, Bala Tata, demanded for the construction of more smart toilets in public places, repairs of broken boreholes, construction of refuse dumps at strategic areas, provision of VIP latrines in schools, worship places, hospitals and motor parks at the two local governments.
Besides, the Programme Officer NEWSAN, Mr Nicole Kankani, said with the 2019 election around the corner, the electorate should use the power of thier votes to demand for improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services from thier leaders because it is thier right.
He said, “Another opportunity is here again for you to demand from your leaders those services that will improve your lives in the area of education, health, hygiene and water, instead of collecting salt and sugar. If you miss this opportunity, you have to wait another four years to make another demand”.