WaterAid Nigeria, with support from Who Gives a Crap and in partnership with the Bauchi State Government, has constructed and handed over a user-friendly sanitation facility.
This toilet is one of six models co-created with government and community stakeholders through a user-centred design approach. The commissioning ceremony, held on Tuesday to commemorate World Toilet Day 2024, took place at the Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports Hall opposite Wunti Market in Bauchi State.
Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, represented by his Deputy, Rt Hon Auwal Jatau, emphasised the critical importance of access to clean, safe, and dignified toilets for ensuring healthy and productive lives for all individuals.
The governor stated, “Unfortunately, many people in the state and across the country at large face inadequate access to sanitation facilities, resulting in the spread of preventable diseases and a compromised quality of life.”
He went on to say, “Therefore, this toilet facility is a perfect example of what can be achieved when we work together to address one of the most pressing challenges in our society.”
Gov. Abdulkadir also stressed: “The importance of safe and dignified toilets for all cannot be overemphasized. To this end, World Toilet Day serves as a reminder that sanitation is a human right integral to public health, as well as social dignity and environmental sustainability. The occasion underscores our collective commitment to enhancing public health, especially in tackling challenges faced by women, girls, children, and persons living with disabilities.”
The Governor stated, “Today’s occasion is not just a celebration of a newly constructed facility, but a step towards building a more sustainable and healthy environment for future generations.”
He reassured the public that, “As a government, we ensure that the infrastructures we build are sustainable, durable, and adaptable to the challenges we face. Bauchi State, as a partner in progress, is determined to improve public sanitation and promote health and hygiene across our state.”
Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, added, “Our state has recognised that improving sanitation is not about building facilities but about changing mindsets. Empowering communities and fostering a culture of hygiene and care for the environment.”
He further stated, “As we continue to improve access to clean and safe toilets, we will also continue to emphasise the importance of education and advocacy, particularly for our children, to ensure that healthy practices are passed from one generation to the next.”
The Governor then assured, “On this note, I want to assure you that my administration remains fully committed to advancing sanitation and public health for the overall well-being of our citizens. We will continue to prioritise investment in water, hygiene, and sanitation projects to ensure that our people, regardless of their background, have access to the facilities they need to live a healthy and dignified life.”
In her remarks, WaterAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Evelyn Mere, highlighted, “In Nigeria, over half of the population lacks access to a decent toilet. This stark reality compromises health, hinders economic growth, and denies millions their right to dignity.”
She continued, “The urgency to address this challenge cannot be overstated, especially as the effects of climate change amplify vulnerabilities, leaving fragile water sources increasingly polluted and sanitation systems overwhelmed.”
According to her, “WaterAid Nigeria has been steadfast in advocating for and implementing solutions that meet the needs of all—men, women, children, persons with disabilities, and those in crisis-affected areas.”
She added, “From commissioning female-friendly toilets in Lagos schools to piloting inclusive, climate-adaptable, user-friendly toilet models for marketplaces and motor parks in Bauchi, our work highlights the power of collaboration to deliver sustainable change.”
Evelyn Mere, represented by Nanpet Chuktu, Head of Programme at WaterAid Nigeria, emphasised, “In Bauchi, a groundbreaking public toilet model designed in partnership with communities through a user-centred design approach and endorsed by the state government is being commissioned today. The toilet is specially designed to meet the needs of users of all ages and genders, with features that ease usage, especially for women, girls, and persons with disabilities.”
She further explained, “These features include wide doors, handrails, and ramps for wheelchair users, well-secured doors, separate entrances for men and women, and a platform for nursing mothers to change their babies’ diapers.” Across the country, these interventions prove that inclusive design, local engagement, and climate adaptation can work together to address the sanitation crisis.”
“Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6—clean water and sanitation for all—demands collaboration. Governments, development partners, civil society, and the private sector must align efforts, prioritise investment, and champion policies that scale proven models.”
She further urged, “As we gather here today, I urge the government of Bauchi State, through the able leadership of His Excellency Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Kauran Bauchi, to commit to sustaining and replicating this toilet model in other markets and motor parks in the state, ensuring that no one is left behind.”
Evelyn Mere assured, “WaterAid remains resolute in its partnership with the Bauchi state government and communities to bring inclusive sanitation services to everyone in the state and Nigeria. Together, let us build a future where access to a decent toilet is not a privilege but a guaranteed right for all.”
In his keynote address, Rt. Hon. Danlami Ahmed Kawule, Commissioner, Ministry of Housing and Environment, stated that poor sanitation is one of the leading causes of preventable diseases, particularly among children and women.
According to him, “Diarrhoea, cholera, and other waterborne illnesses continue to claim thousands of lives annually, especially in rural communities. Accordingly, the User-Friendly Toilet reference model is a climate-resilient facility that addresses the needs of people with special needs, girls, and women. It will help in making the state open defecation-free, achieve safely managed sanitation, and ultimately safeguard public health in the state.”
The Commissioner stressed, “The new toilet model, therefore, is designed not only with functionality and affordability in mind but with the environment in mind, featuring low-maintenance, water-saving, and cost-effective solutions.”
He added, “It will interest you to note that the user-friendly toilet model represents more than just an infrastructure project. It symbolises the promise of dignity, health, and well-being for every individual in Bauchi State, particularly the most vulnerable. Access to safe, clean, and sanitary toilet facilities is not merely a matter of comfort but a fundamental human right. It is about ensuring that every person, regardless of age, gender, or ability, can live with dignity and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of society.”
Danlami Kawule commended the efforts of WaterAid International for providing such a significant intervention, as well as other donor partners like UNICEF for the technical support they are providing to the state, stressing, “These have led the state to be among the leading states working towards actualising the safely managed sanitation goal.”
He added that the attainment of this milestone has not come as a surprise, particularly when considering the enabling environment and dynamic leadership of Governor Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed across all sectors of human endeavour.
According to him, “The Ministry of Housing and Environment and Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) are appreciative of His Excellency’s tireless contributions, particularly in supporting all environmental projects and programs in the state.”
He further stated, “It may interest you to know that BASEPA, as a regulating agency under the Ministry of Housing and Environment, is doing great work in formalising all the key actors along the faecal sludge value chain in the state.”
The Commissioner added, “The Agency has come up with a guideline for Faecal Sludge Management and organises a series of capacity-building workshops for different actors in the Faecal Sludge Management value chain across the state.”
He stressed, “The Climate Resilient Faecal Sludge Management Implementation Strategy 2025-2030 document, developed by the Agency with support from UNICEF, will serve as a roadmap to fortify the resilience of our sanitation systems against the backdrop of Bauchi’s unique environmental challenges.”
He then gave assurances that the Ministry of Housing and Environment, as a policy formulation body, will continue to support BASEPA, RUWASSA, relevant stakeholders, and collaborate with donor partners in order to achieve the successful implementation of this document in the state.
The Commissioner concluded, stating, “As we hand over this project today, let us remember that we are not just inaugurating a physical structure but also laying a foundation for healthier and more resilient communities. It is hoped that the lessons learnt from its implementation in Bauchi State will provide valuable insights to other states in the country that are grappling with similar sanitation challenges.”
Goodwill messages were also received from the State Ministry of Water Resources, BASEPA, UNICEF, civil society organisations, including representatives from persons with disabilities (PWDs), market associations, and other stakeholders.
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then