Stakeholders in the sanitation and hygiene sector in Bauchi State have reviewed Sanitation Policies for the domestication of the African Sanitation Policy Guidelines (ASPG) in the state.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the review workshop was organised by the state’s Ministry of Water Resources, in collaboration with WaterAid Nigeria on Thursday in Bauchi.
Mr Kichime Bawa, the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Consultant with Wateraid, said the review was to engage stakeholders in the WASH sector to identify gaps in the sanitation policy of the state.
He said that interacting with the assessment tool would help stakeholders compare the sanitation policy of the state with global standards.
He added that through the review and comparison, the state can see what it needs to do to meet the minimum and global standards to improve sanitation.
Bawa stated that the outcome of the workshop would be disseminated and serve as the Sanitation Situation Analysis and be used for policy improvement for the state’s WASH sector.
He explained that “ASPG involves working with governments, civil society and the private sector to develop and review sanitation policies that meet the specific needs and contexts of African countries,
“The ASPG provides a roadmap for African countries to develop policies that are comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable.”
On his part, Mr Adamu Ali, the Director, Water Supply in the state’s Ministry of Water Resources, said the Bauchi State Government sought the assistance of WaterAid to review its existing WASH policy.
“Some gaps were identified in the policy with the introduction of the African Sanitation Policy Guidelines (ASPG) and the use of the African Sanitation Policy Assessment tool (ASPAT); those gaps in the policy will be addressed to meet best global practice.
He said that reviewing the WASH policy would allow the state to access funding from donors, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and other international organisations.
In a remark, Mr Andulrazak Zaki, the Commissioner for Water Resources in the state, said that already WASH units in the local governments were converted to departments.
He noted that this would give the local governments full autonomy to run the affairs of the WASH Units Independently.
The stakeholders in the meeting include religious organisations, the academia, media, Ministries, Departments, Agencies and civil society groups, amongst others.
