News

FG seeks innovation, renewed partnerships, to end poor sanitation indices

Published

2 years ago

January 23, 2023

By Tosin Kolade.

The Nigerian Government on Monday called for more innovative ideas and partnerships that would help to accelerate progress in scaling up sanitation and hygiene in the country.

This was the focus at the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS) meeting, a coalition of stakeholders working in the water and sanitation sector in Abuja.

Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, said the role of innovation could not be overlooked, following recommendations from all experts as a necessity to changing poor narratives in the sector.

While commending NTGS members for their tenacity in validating former open defecation communities to become open defecation – free, Adamu however urged them to be steadfast and credible in their efforts.

According to him, efforts are on to introduce the School, Health and Youth Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme through their parent ministries so as to scale up sanitation in the country.

Adamu said findings from the WASH Normal Routine mapping showed low progress on defecation-free local government areas.

He said with collective efforts, the negative indices would be reversed, for the overall good of the country.

Mrs Chizoma Opara, National Coordinator, Clean Nigeria Campaign Secretariat, said efforts were on to train information officers on its activities so as to promote awareness for the populace.

Opara said Nasarawa State has shown major progress in its implementation of the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) Plus programme, with 11 local government areas currently being supported.

Dr Jane Bevan, UNICEF Chief of WASH, said there was need for introduction of subsidies for most vulnerable persons in communities, so as to improve their wellbeing.

According to Bevan, this could be introduced during the triggering stages of CLTS processes in the communities.

“We are thinking about introducing subsidies to encourage vulnerable people to build their toilets, we are working to do this through introduction of loans in Bauchi and Oyo states,” she said.

Highlight of the meeting was the introduction of new consultants to work on the development of a National Social and Behavior Change Communication Strategy and a Strategy for Scaling Up Sanitation Market in some states.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that
poor sanitation is costing the country the equivalent of $3 billion annually, or 1.3 per cent of its GDP, in productivity losses, deaths and healthcare expenses.

For Nigeria to be on track to achieve SDG 6, new and innovative sanitation solutions must be provided and a whole sanitation economy developed. (NAN)

News

President Tinubu Arrives In Lagos Ahead Of Christmas Holiday

Published

35 minutes ago

December 18, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Lagos from Abuja ahead of the Christmas celebrations.

The President was received at the airport by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, along with other state officials.

He is expected to proceed to his private residence in the state.

His arrival follows the presentation of the 2025 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

He described it as the “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity.” The proposal, he explained, is aimed at stabilizing the economy, fostering an equitable business environment, and promoting inclusive growth.

News

Kano Approves 1st Term Vacation Date

Published

2 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

Kano State Government has approved Friday 20th and Saturday 21st Dec. 2024 as the date for the commencement of 1st term vacation to all Day and Boarding Public/Private Primary and Post Primary Schools in the state.

Therefore, Parents/ Guardians of Pupils and Students in the Boarding schools are to convey their wards home by the early hours of Saturday 21st Dec. 2024.

A statement by the Director Public Enlightenment of the State Ministry of Education Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru explained that Boarding Schools Pupils and Students are to resume back to their respective Schools on Sunday 5th January 2025 while the Day Students are to resume on Monday 6th January 2025.

The statement however quoted the Commissioner of the Ministry Dr. Ali Haruna Makoda urging Parents/Guardians of Pupils and Students of the schools to ensure total compliance with resumption dates.

The statement further warned that appropriate Disciplinary Action would be taken against defaulting Students

It appreciated the cooperation and support given to the ministry and wished the Students and Pupils successful and hitch free holiday.

News

Police intensify manhunt on Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa over Ganduje’s suspension

Published

9 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

No fewer than 40 special detective from the Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Egbedokun monitoring team have intensify search for arrest of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa.

The IGP men who were deployed from Abuja to arrest Dawakin-Tofa on the instruction of acting Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje were said to have been lodged at Tahir guest palace in the last two weeks to execute the mandate.

Ganduje had petitioned the IGP over the controversy surrounding his suspension from his Ganduje ward in Dawakin-Tofa local government of the state, accusing the Governor’s Spokesperson who is from his constituency of orchestrating the political downfalls.

Family sources told journalists on Tuesday that the team of detective in plain clothes were noticed mounted surveillance around residence of Dawakin-Tofa on Monday as part of ground move to carry out their assignment.

One of the members of the family who want to remain anonymous because of security reasons lamented that the secret police ransacked the residence for more than 5 times, scaring members of Dawakin-Tofa’s family including the wife and children as well as creating apprehension in the neighborhood.

The IGP special force have mounted dragnet for Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa’s arrest in the last two weeks despite an order of the court restraining the IGP, DSS, CP Kano and other security agencies from arresting and or harrasing the Governor’s spokesperson.

Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of Kano state high court on Thursday granted an exparte application, preventing further manhunt of Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa pending the hearing and determination of substantive matter on his fundamental rights slated for 22nd January, 2025.

The animosity between Dawakin-Tofa and Ganduje dated nine years ago, specifically in 2015, when Ganduje, as governor-elect, reportedly ordered Dawakin-Tofa’s arrest over his opposition during the gubernatorial election.

In the latest harassment, Ganduje was said to have petitioned the IGP , accusing Dawakin-Tofa of the brain behind his suspension by the APC Ganduje ward executives few months ago.

Consequently, a team of 40 police officers from the IGP Monitoring Unit was reportedly mobilized to Kano with the sole aim of apprehending the governor’s spokesperson.

Efforts to reach the National Police Spokesperson (FPPRO) were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages to his phone went unanswered.

Daily post