By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
Benue Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASA) has sought the intervention of development partners such as UNICEF, Wateraid, the Federal Government through its program, Partnership with Expanded Water Sanitation (PEWAS) to eradicate open defecation in the rural communities.
Acting General Manager of the agency, Mr Tony Mkpen who stated this while fielding questions from Day Break in Makurdi, posited that only eight out of the twenty three local government areas that are open defecation free.
Mr Mkpen who identified non payment of counterpart funding by past administrations said this has discouraged other partners from intervening in critical areas. He however, expressed optimism that with the zeal shown by the Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia’s led administration, the partners would soon return back to the state.
” For now is only UNICEF that is currently partnering with us. Eight local government areas are open defecation free, we are currently intervening in two local governments, that is Ado and Ohimini. As I speak with you, the Taskforce on sanitation are there trying to certify them, that is checking if they have met the requirements”.
Counting, the General Manager posited that the agency under his headship has created awareness to get the public to know why it is good to own toilet facilities through the community led total sanitation where staff go out to encourage rural people to own and use toilets.
” With the zeal shown by the present administration, BERWASA will be funded to be repositioned to provide toilet facilities at the local government areas to ensure that the state is defecation free before the end of 2023.
When I took over, I met broken down equipment that were donated by UNICEF in 1995 at the inception of the agency. As I speak with you, work is ongoing on one. Work is completed on repair of a compressor, so at least by next we will have one Rig, one compressor back to work.”
The General Manager also sought the mandate of the state government to enable the agency regulates the operation of private drilling companies. He expressed disgust over what he described as shudy jobs being handled by the said companies and exploitation of members of the public through exorbitant charges.
” The Edict establishing this place gives us the mandate to regulate the activities of private drilling companies in the state. If Government gives mandate, we will not just stop subjection of our people to exploitation. We will see to it that bole holes are drilled to conform to standards of the Federal Government and the World Health Organization (WHO)”.
