By Shindong Bala
Kaduna State Government has moved to strengthen access to safe water and sanitation services across the state with the restoration of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Departments in all 23 Local Government Areas, ending years of institutional gaps in grassroots water and sanitation management.
The Director-General of the Kaduna State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (KADRUWASSA), Mr. Mubarak Shehu Ladan, disclosed this in a statement, describing the development as a major step towards improving water and sanitation services across the state.
He said the restoration was in line with the Kaduna State WASH Policy and would return planning, supervision and rapid response functions to the local government level after years of institutional setbacks.
Mr. Ladan commended Governor Uba Sani for approving the restoration, noting that it would promote sustainable and effective WASH service delivery in communities.
The statement quoted the WASH Director in Igabi Local Government Area, Hajiya Amina Usman, as saying the restoration had given the department a voice in local government decision-making and improved its capacity to address challenges affecting water facilities.
Similarly, the WASH Director in Kajuru Local Government Area, Mr. Joshua Peter Aminja, said the development would restore dignity to communities by ensuring prompt responses to water and sanitation challenges.
The restoration has also recorded progress in gender inclusion, with eight women appointed to head WASH Departments in Sabon Gari, Soba, Jaba, Chikun, Sanga, Igabi, Lere and Jema’a Local Government Areas.
The state government, through KADRUWASSA and the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme, is expected to consolidate the reform through improved field supervision, maintenance of water facilities and stronger grassroots service delivery.
Editing By Godwin Duru
