The Borno State Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and WaterAid have advocated for a water policy in the state. According to WaterAid, the policy is based on the national action plan and the State’s 25-year development plan. The policy demand, was contained a communique issued at the weekend, after a Stakeholders’ dialogue in Maiduguri; to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the water sector.
The Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects is funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by WaterAid and Mercy Corps in the Northeast. “The Civil Society should advocate for the passage of the water policy,” said the Communique; signed by Dare Oduluyi of WaterAid and Musa Usman; the rapporteur of the dialogue. Oduluyi reiterated that the CSOs should take it upon themselves to push for the water policy process. On the roles of media actual the policy, he said: “It should also take the lead by following up on the issue of the water policy by asking stakeholders questions.”
Besides Stakeholders’ involvement, community and religious leaders should be engaged by mobilizing their people to protect the water facilities. He noted that Stakeholders and Community leaders should support water reforms with advocacy visits to State Governments and relevant agencies. “The Small Town Water Supply and WASH projects should support the State Government to produce a comprehensive open defecation roadmap. He said after the passage of the water policy, the relevant laws should be passed to ensure its effective implementation.
He added that the construction of sanitation facilities should be inclusive and sensitive to issues of gender and disability. While the Ministry of Water Resources and other stakeholders should ensure effective regulation of the water sector. The participants that drafted the communique therefore called on the State Government to declare a state of emergency on open defecation with a political will. He said the capacity building on WASH for CSOs, communities and other stakeholders be intensified to sustain and protect all water facilities. According to him, Communities should be empowered to take up their responsibilities of sustaining the facilities, including toilets.
