Jigawa State Government has revealed that it has spent N500 million (Five Hundred Million) to provide improved latrines in public places across the state.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Ibrahim Hannungiwa, made the disclosure on Wednesday, November 1 in Dutse, the state capital.
He said proactive measures had been adopted by the government to ensure the sustainability of its leading position as an Open Defecation Free, ODF, state.
According to Hannungiwa, the state is geared towards surpassing the nation’s ODF target by 2025.
He said the feat was achieved by putting in a lot of effort through the execution of viable policies and programmes in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The commissioner said; “We have set up a committee to work out modalities for the sustainability of the ODF status. Under this committee, more standard public conveniences would be provided at public places.
“The state government has done a lot especially in rural communities to enlighten the importance of using toilets.
“Jigawa state is the only and the first state so far declared by UNICEF as Open Defecation Free in Nigeria.”
Hannungiwa said the state governor, Umar Namadi, has also been appointed as ODF Ambassador by the UN Agency.
