The Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure, in collaboration with First Impression Communication Limited, has organized a pre-testing workshop on the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) program at Arewa House, Kaduna.
Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Public Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Ibrahim Hamza, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to addressing water shortages in the state.
Represented by the Assistant Director of Water Resources, David Roven Aliyu, the Commissioner highlighted the state’s efforts, including the construction of boreholes in various communities to improve sanitation and hygiene.
The Nigeria SURWASH program is a $700 million World Bank-financed initiative aimed at enhancing WASH services across seven Nigerian states, including Kaduna.
The program’s objectives include providing basic drinking water to six million people and improving sanitation for 1.4 million individuals.
Dr. Hamza noted that six local government areas—Soba, Igabi, Chikun, Jaba, Jema’a, and Sabon Gari—have been earmarked for achieving open defecation-free status.
“Once these areas meet the required standards, an additional seven local government areas will be selected for the program” he said.
He urged residents to safeguard government-provided sanitation and hygiene facilities to ensure their longevity and effectiveness.
Speaking at the event, the Kaduna SURWASH Program Coordinator, Mr. Esau Ambinjah, emphasized the importance of community involvement in protecting boreholes and other sanitation facilities.
He also announced that seven local government areas—Sanga, Makarfi, Kudan, Zaria, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, and Zangon Kataf—have already been selected for the SURWASH initiative.
In her remarks, the President of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Amira Hafsatu Musa Isa, recommended that the public sensitization jingles should incorporate local content that aligns with cultural and religious values.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Women’s Wing, Kaduna State, Bishop Eister Yawai, stressed the need to extend the SURWASH campaign to religious communities.
She noted that access to clean water is crucial in preventing waterborne diseases and called on the government and stakeholders to intensify efforts to address water shortages.
The Project Consultant of First Impression Communication Limited, Yusuf Idris, presented SURWASH sensitization jingles in both Hausa and English, after which participants provided feedback and observations to enhance the campaign’s effectiveness.
Cov/Adamu Yusuf
