WaterAid Nigeria has inaugurated five climate-resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in Misau local government area of Bauchi State, providing thousands of residents with improved access to safe drinking water and decent sanitation.
The projects, funded by DP World, were inaugurated and handed over to the benefitting communities at Kofar Gari and Tofu. They comprise three solar-powered water supply schemes located in Fulatari, Kofar Gari and Gurduba, as well as two inclusive public sanitation facilities at Misau Motor Park and Madakiri Market.
During the handover yesterday, the country director of WaterAid Nigeria, Evelyn Mere, said the interventions were designed based on priorities identified by the benefiting communities.
Represented by the head of Business Dvelopment and Partnerships, Mr Emmanuel Iorkumbur, Mere noted that the projects would significantly improve public health, reduce the burden of water scarcity and enhance the quality of life for residents.
She said that for years, residents of Fulatari depended on unsafe sources of water, exposing families to frequent illnesses and avoidable medical expenses.
“In Fulatari, the water people have relied on for generations is not safe to drink. Families have experienced the consequences directly through illness, frequent hospital visits and the kind of worry no parent should carry. Today, that changes,” she said.
Mere also revealed that the Gurduba water scheme was completed after more than a year of searching for a productive borehole, adding that the community now enjoys clean water distributed through a 300-metre reticulation network.
She described the sanitation facility at Misau Motor Park as a successful example of partnership, explaining that while WaterAid constructed the toilet facility, the water component was provided by the government through the Inclusive Basic Service Delivery and Livelihood Empowerment Integrated Programme (IBSDLEIP), supported by the African Development Bank.
“That is what complementarity looks like in practice, and it is a model we hope to see replicated,” she stated.
The country director urged the Volunteer Hygiene Promoters trained under the project and members of the host communities to safeguard the facilities to ensure their sustainability.
“This is your facility. This is your water. And this is your future,” she told residents of Kofar Gari, Fulatari, Gurduba, Misau Motor Park and Madakiri Market.
She reaffirmed WaterAid Nigeria’s commitment to collaborating with governments, development partners and communities to achieve universal access to clean water, improved sanitation and good hygiene.
Also speaking, the general manager of the Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Engr. Samaila Jibrin, described the project as a major milestone in the state’s efforts to improve access to essential WASH services.
“We aren’t just handing over concrete, pipes and solar panels. We are handing over dignity, better health and a more secure future,” he said.
According to him, the project, titled “Increasing Access to Climate-Resilient WASH for Women in Bauchi State,” targets vulnerable communities within the Chad Basin and is expected to provide at least 15,000 people with access to basic water supply, 4,000 people with hygiene behaviour change interventions and 1,000 people with improved sanitation facilities.
He said the focus on women was intentional, noting that improved access to water would reduce the time spent fetching water, keep more girls in school, improve household health and stimulate local economic activities.
He commended the Bauchi State government for creating an enabling environment for development partners and expressed appreciation to DP World for funding the project and WaterAid Nigeria for its technical expertise in implementation.
“Our profound gratitude goes to our core sponsor, DP World. Your generous funding has turned a critical need into a life-changing reality,” he said.
He urged community leaders and residents to take ownership of the facilities by protecting and maintaining them to ensure they continue serving present and future generations.
