Gombe seek measures to end open defecation

The Gombe State Government, on Wednesday, declared a state of emergency on water supply, hygiene, and sanitation in order to end open defecation in the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Alhassan Kwami; and his Water Resources counterpart, Mijinyawa Yahaya, at a joint briefing, said the decision was made at the State Executive Council on Wednesday.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Mijinyawa Yahaya, told journalists that the state of emergency became imperative due to disturbing statistics of water supply, hygiene and sanitation in the state.

According to the commissioner, the state’s governor also approved N250m for Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PE-WASH)

He mentioned that four council areas of Funakaye, Kwami, Balanga and Dukku would benefit from the first phase of the projects, nothing that 332 borehole would be sunk in the councils.

He equally announced that the state’s government has banned open defecation.

Yahaya stressed that the justice ministry was working on the penalty to be meted to anyone that would flout the ban on open defecation.

He said, “Plans are on the pipelines to ensure that public toilets are built in critical areas like motor parks, hospitals, schools, among others. The enlightenment programme will be vigorously pursued for the people in the state to know the danger inherent in open defecation.