By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
The General Manager of Benue Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASA ), Mr Tony Mkpen said Benue State has emerged the overall best in the whole of North Central Nigeria and third in the country on the Open Defecation Free (ODF) chart.
Mr Mkpen who stated this while fielding questions from Daybreak in Makurdi, stressed that despite challenges, the agency in partnership with UNICEF and other International Organizations has made tremendous impact on the lives of Benue people through promotion of hygiene and sanitation in public schools and other public places.
“We have collaborated with the UNICEF and other partners and provided water and sanitation facilities in some communities in some Local Government Areas and Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps. For example in Ado and Ohimini Local Government Areas, we rehabilitated ten water and sanitation facilities in each of the local governments with the help and support of UNICEF.
“We have made Ado and Ohimini Local Government Areas Open Defecation Free, ODF, which brought the number of LGAs to 11, thus positioning Benue State first in the North Central Nigeria and third in the whole county on the Open Defecation Free map. The Federal Government through Partnership for Expanded Water Supply and Sanitation Program (PE-WASS) is to intervene in some communities in the state.”
According to the General Manager, the agency has proposed to construct 36 solar motorized boreholes across state. He said BERWASA intends to also construct 22 sanitation facilities in public places with the state funds, maintaining that the agency under his watch, has scaled up intervention in Ushongo and Vandeikya Local Government Areas through UNICEF funding.
Mr Mkpen hinted that BERWASA in collaboration with a Catholic Non-governmental Organization, Foundation for Peace, Justice and Development with the support of Catholic Relief Services, has provided solar boreholes, lights and toilets at the Gbajimba and Daudu IDPs camps.
The General Manager who applauded the Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, for graciously approving the state counterpart funding, expressed satisfaction over what agency under his leadership has achieved so far, and pledged to do more.
