Two Nigerian states to benefit from Global Sanitation Funds

Clara Rudholm, Programme Officer, Global Water Supply and Sanitation Funds, Geneva has announced that Cross River and Benue States would benefit from the Global Sanitation Funds in Nigeria.
Rudholm made this known during a meeting with the management of Federal Ministry of Water Resources in Abuja over the weekend.
The Programme Officer said that Global Sanitation Funds is meant to support World Sanitation Programme for a period of five years (2013-2017).
However, the sanitation programme, which was conceptualised in Nigeria, would be implemented in the country commencing in three local government areas in Benue, three local government areas in Cross River, while the two state governments would provide counterpart funding for additional three local governments in each state for the programme.
The benefiting local governments are Abi, Obanliku and Bekwara in Cross River State as well as Logo, Gwer East and Aguta in Benue State.
The additional three local government to benefit from the matching funds from the states are Obudu, Akamkpa and Ogoja in Cross River State, with Ado, Bukuru and Gboko in Benue State also profiting from it.
Rudholm noted that the global funds officials and the officials of Benue and Cross River States have met and strategised on how the programme would kick start.
She disclosed that the Global Sanitation Fund is planning to hold a conference on sanitation in Calabar, Cross River State in December 2012, where all states of the federation would be invited to give highlight of the sanitation programmes in their various states.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said that Federal Government of Nigeria is committed in sanitation in Nigeria.
Igali said in the 2013 budget, the Federal Government has approved N360 million for women group participation in sanitation across the country.
“With the commitment of the Federal Government and the support from global funds, state and local governments, Nigeria would achieve MDG Target on water and sanitation,” he said.
He called on the team to pay attention to riverine areas where people defecate in the river.
Igali revealed that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Global Sanitation Fund and other stakeholders would initiate a programme to encourage competition on sanitation among the states, adding that the state that comes first would receive a presidential award and more intervention from the Federal Government.