Anambra Validates WASH Investment Plan, Targets Better Water, Sanitation Services
By Azuka Offor
Anambra State has taken a major step towards improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene services as stakeholders validated baseline data to strengthen the state’s local WASH investment plan and guide more equitable development across communities.
The validation workshop, organised by Teamwork Global Associates, was held on July 23 at Fun Surge Hotel and Suites, Akure, and brought together key stakeholders to review data, strengthen institutional planning and ensure that future WASH investments are based on accurate community needs.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Casmir Chinenye Agummadu, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Victor Ezekwo, stressed the importance of reliable data in effective development planning.
Mr Ezekwo expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the African Development Bank and Teamwork Global Associates for their support towards improving WASH services and ensuring a more equitable distribution of resources across communities in the state.
A WASH Expert, Dr Mike Nwude, described access to water and sanitation as fundamental to human life and essential to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly targets 6.1 and 6.2, which focus on universal access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Dr Nwude called on Local Government Chairmen to upgrade WASH units to full departments, saying such a step would improve budgetary allocations and accelerate progress towards the achievement of the 2030 development targets.
He also emphasised the importance of accurate and community based data, noting that information gathered and validated by people familiar with the peculiarities of local communities would support better sanitation planning and ensure the equitable allocation of government resources.
The Programme Manager of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA, in the Ministry of Power and Water Resources, Mr Tochukwu Nwosu, identified poor sustainability and inadequate maintenance culture as major factors responsible for the abandonment of some water facilities across communities.
He advocated the establishment of WASH committees in every community, with appropriate accommodation and support to enable them to effectively manage and sustain water and sanitation facilities.
The workshop featured presentations, detailed review and validation of baseline data, discussions, corrections and local government institutional diagnostics.
The validated data was subsequently adopted as a working document, subject to necessary corrections, providing a stronger foundation for planning and investment in the state’s WASH sector.
The workshop ended with a question and answer session and a renewed commitment by stakeholders to strengthen institutional coordination, improve data driven planning and expand access to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services across Anambra State.
