News Editor
From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
Benue State Government has commenced the process of transitioning its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Units in the 23 Local Government Areas of the state to full WASH Departments to scale up actions toward the implementation of its water reform laws and WASH policy in the state.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Odoh Ugwu, disclosed this on Monday during a high-level stakeholders meeting held in his office in Makurdi.
The Commissioner said institutionalizing WASH departments at the LGA level is in line with the 2024 Benue State Water Law and WASH Policy and would ensure proper implementation of the water and sanitation policy of the state.
Mr. Ugwu noted that the meeting was for all critical stakeholders to brainstorm on how to speed up the implementation process. He stated that the State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has already signed the new Benue State Water Reform Policy Law awaiting full implementation.
He explained that the policy cannot be properly implemented with the WASH units currently in place, hence the need to upgrade them into full departments.
He appealed to all the strategic stakeholders’ and development partners to key into the programme for effective implementation.
The Commissioner who stated that already 11 out of the 23 LGAs of the state have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) said Governor Hyacinth Alia is working hard to ensure that the remaining LGAs are declared ODF free by the end of 2025.
Also speaking, the Chairman Local Government Service Commission Hon. James Iverver commended the effort of the Commissioner stressing that what he had done was laudable one pledging the support of the Commission to see to the full implementation of the policy at the local government areas.
Similarly, the General Manager, Benue State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASAA), Mr. Tony Nkpen appreciated the state government for securing many programmes for the state, reiterating that the WASH Policy is already a State policy, duly signed by His Excellency, hence, they only need to commence work in terms of its implementation.
Speaking separately at the meeting, are other key stakeholders and representatives such as the Director General, Bureau for International Corporation and Development (BICD), Dr Leonard-Angelo Viashima, the Covering Permanent Secretary from Bureau of Establishment and Management Service (Office of the Head of Service), Mr Iorja Terungwa, Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Shagba Jacob and Benue State Environmental and Sanitation Authority Mrs Nashima Jennifer, all thanked the Commissioner for his efforts and promised to key into the implementation process to ensure its success.
