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The Federal Government inaugurated a 23-man technical sub-committee, water sanitation and hygiene, on Monday. The sub-committee's primary objective is to consolidate existing policies into a comprehensive document covering all aspects of WASH.
Dr. Nicolas Madu, the Director of Water Supply and Support Services at the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, announced the formation of the sub-committee. Madu, who is also the national chairman of the WASH policy development committee, highlighted that the decision to formulate a comprehensive national WASH policy was influenced by insights from the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Minister of Environment.
The subcommittee, composed of 42 members from various government ministries, civil societies, and donor agencies, aims to bring together diverse perspectives in the WASH domain for a well-thought-out policy document. Madu stressed the importance of elevating sanitation and hygiene to the same level as water supply, ensuring that the subcommittee has adequate time and resources to thoroughly discuss and provide informed advice to the main committee.
WaterAid Nigeria has also called for urgent action on WASH for national development, emphasizing its critical role in economic development and public health. Kolawole Banwo, Head of Advocacy, Policy, and Communications at WaterAid, highlighted the economic impact of water and the increased disease burden without proper WASH infrastructure. Banwo emphasized the importance of a subcommittee focusing on WASH and the need to move beyond promises of water supply to address sanitation and hygiene components.
Elizabeth Ugo, a director in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and a member of the subcommittee, expressed total support for the main committee. The subcommittee members are drawn from various ministries, including Health, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Transport, Works, Housing, Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, as well as academia. This diverse composition ensures comprehensive consideration of stakeholders' perspectives in developing the WASH policy document.
