By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
A coalition of Civil Society Organizations, IbomWASH+, has urgently appealed to Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom to approve the WASH and Open Defecation Free (ODF) policy framework for the state.
The coalition, which includes the African Human Development Center, Better Future Initiative, Akwa-Cross Sustainable Development Community Association, Garden Initiative, and NEWSAN Mandate, is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to advance reforms in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector of the state.
In a statement issued yesterday in Uyo, endorsed by its Project Director, Prof. Gabriel Umoh, the coalition emphasized that environmental degradation, waste pollution, and open defecation could only be effectively addressed with adequate water availability and efficient management.
“With the national deadline of 2025 rapidly approaching, Akwa Ibom State must act now to domesticate Executive Order 009, signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, which mandates Nigeria to become open defecation free by 2025,” the statement read.
The State WASH Policy, along with the WASH Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and the Open Defecation-Free Roadmap, was presented to the Executive Council of the previous administration, which directed that the documents be returned for further discussion.
“Since Pastor Umo Eno’s administration began, these documents have not been considered and approved as expected, particularly given the Governor’s experience in the WASH sector as the pioneer Commissioner of the former Ministry of Water and Land Resources,” the statement continued.
The WASH policy, M&E Framework, and Open Defecation-Free Roadmap are supplementary to the State Water Sector Law, which has been in place for over two years but remains unimplemented.
“These policies and legislation are essential for guiding the development of the state’s water resources and sanitation. Other sections can follow,” the coalition added.
They maintained that approving the policy framework is critical for accelerating efforts to close existing gaps in sanitation and hygiene across the state, urging the governor to take decisive action to ensure Akwa Ibom meets national deadlines and safeguards the health and dignity of its citizens.
