Bukola Afeni
In a groundbreaking move, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and different stakeholders have called for a periodic review of sanitation and hygiene policy in Nigeria.
They disclosed this at a validation meeting on the situational assessment of sanitation policies at the national level in Abuja.
The experts underscored the importance of funding, particularly the support received from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
They believe that the funding will play a pivotal role in strengthening the sector and contributing to the National Action Plan’s revitalization.
The experts noted that a coordinated government budget aligned with the policy’s objectives is expected to reduce duplication and streamline efforts towards achieving improved sanitation and hygiene standards across Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Mrs. Elizabeth emphasized that sanitation cannot be discussed in isolation from water sanitation while underscoring the interconnectedness of the critical areas.
“Sanitation policy is of paramount importance. The meeting is meant to shed light on gaps and weaknesses, paving the way for a more focused proposal review of WASH policy”, she said
Mrs Ugoh drew attention to the existing disparities in funding, where water often receives more attention than sanitation and hygiene.
“The standalone policy aims to rectify this imbalance by attracting government budgetary support and donor funding, with the ultimate goal of achieving significant improvements in sanitation nationwide”, the Director added.
The Head of WASH at WaterAid Nigeria, Mr. Nanpet Chuktu, commended the establishment of the national task group presentation as a vital platform for fostering multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration.
He highlighted the policy’s significance in unifying various aspects of sanitation and hygiene.
” It would encompass the diverse needs of different agencies and sectors. The policy does not discard previous efforts but rather consolidates them into a comprehensive framework.
“It will address unique issues in schools, primary healthcare centres, tertiary healthcare centres, and public places. The one-stop-shop policy approach would greatly facilitate the effective management of sanitation and hygiene issues”, he said.
A Technical Expert and Consultant with Fatoa and Associates Nigeria Limited, Mr. Abass Kabiru said the report is evaluating policies and how they will facilitate the provision of sanitation services, at both the regional and global level.
” We are looking at reviewing policies in terms of water and sanitation. We are looking at the data available and ensuring that the sanitation indices are improved tremendously”, he said.
The Technical expert also expressed the need for hygiene and behaviour change.
“The policies are inadequate in terms of hygiene, we need to monitor hygiene and sanitation changes. The policies are deficient in elaborating hygiene promotion in homes and institutions of learning”, he added.
He further noted that none of the policies discussed operation and maintenance strategies for handwashing facilities, especially in institutions of learning.
“The assessment of the sanitation Policy represents a significant step for Nigeria in addressing its sanitation and hygiene challenges.
“With the support of dedicated experts and strategic funding, the nation is poised to create a brighter future with enhanced access to clean water and improved sanitation for all its citizens”, Kabiru said.
