The open defecation in Nigeria ends: Kano State Ruwasa’s enterprise and unjected heroes

Pentual weeks, the state of Kano has made a historic trip to the north -northern -western meeting of agencies self -suffered by the responsibility of providing water services, toilet -health services and hygiene (Wash) in the seven states.

During the meeting with Kano State Rural Water Supply and Health Agency (Ruwasa) under Engr. Shamwilu Abdulkadir Isa surprised everyone in the room announcing 20 LGA certified as free of open defecation, all at once, while more six soon expected the certification.

These are Gezawa, Kiru Rino, Dawakin Kudu, Albasu, Shanarono, Bagwai, The Rest are Ungogo, Gaya Ajingi Gabasawa, Kura and Gari. Others were Dawakin Tofa, Rimin Gado, Minjibir, Kumbotso Madobi, Karaye and Takai. The remaining are waiting for certification are Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Sumaila, Bebeji, Bunkure and Tofa.

Those who are familiar with Wash’s issues in the country, in particular the aspect of open defecation in our national newspapers, can remember that Nigeria has joined the Global United Nations campaign against open defecation in line with the objective 6 of the sustainable development of the United Nations.

Nigeria came to light in this practice in 2018 taking the second highest after India in open defecation in the world.

In 2019 Nigeria arrived at the top of the list, thinning India from number 2 to number 1, then guiding the world in open defecation.

The federal government, with a frenetic move to face the threat, said a state of emergency at the opening of defecation and launched a campaign known as Nigeria clean: use the bathroom under the vice -president office, which chairs the National Management Committee to prepare a roadmap to reach the ODF by 2025.

Many states throughout the federation have been able to say in the countryside with some remarkable results for registration. They included Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, now judges the main champions of the country. Jigawa had already distinguished themselves as the first state to reach an open defecation at state level, followed by the state of Katsina with 30 LGA left only one.

Kaduna was dragging 10 LGA in front of the state of Kano in his driving style of the unlined agenda Kaduna from the third position. One might ask, why? From my discoveries, the observers in the competition have noticed that while all the winning states have been able to do it in several phases, over the years, Kano State has quickly made its submission in a phase.

This was corroborated by the National Coordinator for the Secretariat of the Nigeria Pulita campaign, Mrs. Chizoba Opera. During the revision session he declared during the meeting that “this is the first time that a single state has presented such a large number of LGA for certification in ODF”. With this issue, Kano State now occupies the third position after Jigawa and Katsina. According to Mrs. Opera, there are 148 LGA certified in the country and it is interesting to note that 103 are in the north-west, while the remaining 48 spread in the six areas, he said.

He was in recognition of this wonderful company, the governor Abbir Kabir Yusuf was honored with the Great Autiever of the Year prize of the Ministry of Water Resources and High -Innsing Services, while the 20 certified LGA received the respective prize from the Prime Minister’s Presidents.

Governor Yusuf, who received the prize through his deputy, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, described the gesture as a great pride for him and the people of the state. He appreciated the interested parties for recognizing the state’s services in the fight against open defecation and reiterated the determination of the administration to make the state free from an open defecation by 2026 as they are more committed to better funding in the sector, strengthening the laws and hygiene regulations, as well as to implement health inspectors throughout the state. Congratulations to his excellence really.

Having said all this, it’s time to celebrate unknown heroes. Personally, I believe that reaching such a business, in addition to having political will, requires efficient bureaucracy and reactive citizenship. And the Governor Yusuf is blessed with a competent hand in the person of Engr. Shamwilu Abdulkadir Isa, CEO of Ruwasa and his team.

ISA entered the 2023 without any LGA in the certified state such as ODF, which passed four years after the emergency declaration on open defecation in Nigeria. It is interesting to note that States like Jigawa and Katsina had gone far in the race. As CEO of the Agency, he mapped a new strategic plan, he worked assiduously to achieve his goals. Around the first half of last year, almost all LGA were validated by the National Task Group with hygiene. Apart from the ODF project, ENGR. Isa commissioned about 50 water patterns in rural and peri-urban areas.

Most of the holes were powered by solar energy, its style of making the best in line with the global tendency to make the water more accessible to the needy communities. In addition, the agency trained the technicians and craftsmen for the repairs and maintenance of the water schemes in line with the VLOM initiative. On the promotion of hygiene, Kano State Ruwasa boasts expert officers at the managerial level and on the field in the mobilization of the community. This workforce together with the renovation agents form the Bedrock of Wash program and has immensely contributed to saving human lives in community in which water related to water represented a great threat.

Another group that is worth mentioning includes planners and information officials that collect, collect and organize data and manage information for driving and public lighting. In fact, all the staff of various paintings deserve recognition in this regard.

Speaking of reactive citizens now, the state is lucky to have People Civil in Kano and welcoming the communities. Wherever the field agents visit communities and families, they are well welcomed and listened to, the feedbacks would be appreciable and encouraging due to the behavioral change among people.

Engr. Isa brought the participants to Tofa to Gezawa LG during a field visit. Approximately, the city has about 200 families, but every corner was very clean the inhabitants, in particular the children seemed clean and accommodating. The city has, among other things, a standard hygiene structure built by Usaid, many pumping wells as well as a solar energy pattern for large -scale consumption.

I remember an interesting scene when Engr. Shamwilu Isa was invited to turn to the gathering, when he posed, the inhabitants sing cheerfully in Hausa never Rijiya Ya Zo which means that the well man has returned. I asked an elderly man standing by my side, “so people know the man”. He replied affirmative and adds that Shamwilu Isa is known in many years as a young officer responsible for the perforation and maintenance of water patterns throughout the area and beyond.

This is to tell you how deep the agency in his relationship with the base went.

So, in my opinion, the merit of the Kano State Rewasa company has reached the fight against open defecation so far, it could also be shared with the communities with which the agency has worked in the appreciation of their cooperation and understanding of the Wash program, to encourage the remaining 19 LGA waiting to come, for the state to become totally free from open defecation.