The Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Project says it will ensure that all Nigerians have access to sustainable and safely managed water and sanitation (WASH) services by 2030.
The Kaduna State Programme Engineer (Urban- KD-SURWASH)), Mr Usman Ibrahim, disclosed on Monday, May 6, 2024, during an advocacy visit to the Kaduna Zonal Office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said the advocacy visit was to solicit for the support in the reportage of their activities which were for the benefits of the residents of the state.
Ibrahim said, “As members of the fourth estate of the realm, you are key in any developmental programme.
“It is on this note that I request for cordial working relationship between the Kaduna SURWASH team and your organisation.”
He said the gesture was in compliance with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) 6.1for water and 6.2 for sanitation.
According to him, SURWASH programme is a transformational step towards achieving Nigeria’s goal to ensure all Nigerians have access to WASH services as enshrined in the National Action Plan of the Federal Government.
Ibrahim added that SURWASH had introduced a result-based approach that simultaneously incentivises establishing and operationalising key policies.
He added, “They include regulations and institutional reforms required for improved sector performance alongside necessary infrastructure construction and rehabilitation.
“The programme uses two financing instruments: investment project financing (IPF) for capacity improvements and programme for result (P for R) which will drive results generation.
“The programme became effective on Jan. 14,2022 with an implementation period of six years.”
Ibrahim said the pilot local government areas that the programme was being implemented in the state are: Chikun, IGabi, Jaba, Jemaa, Sabo Gari and Soba.
He said the estimated numbers of beneficiaries in the seven participating states under the programme stood at 6.1million people provided with basic drinking water services.
Similarly, 1.4 million people will be provided with access to improve sanitation services, 500 ODF+ verified communities, 2,000 schools and healthcare facilities with improved WASH services.
In his remarks, the Kaduna Zonal Manager, Bashir Rabe-Mani, appreciated the team for the visit and assured them of a good working partnership.
He described NAN as a credible medium that has widespread news coverage, describing the agency as the leading content provider in Nigeria.
By Stella Kabruk
