By Abubakar Muhammad Tukur

The Gombe State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA, has organized a stakeholders’ validation workshop to review and validate three key plans developed to strengthen the implementation of the NG-SURWASH Programme in the state.

The workshop, held under the NG-SURWASH Programme, brought together key stakeholders from the water, sanitation and hygiene sector to critically examine the documents, make observations and provide inputs before their adoption for implementation.

The three documents are the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Human Resource Management Plan, and Operations and Maintenance Plan.

Declaring the workshop open, the General Manager of RUWASSA, Engr. Mohammed Gibrimu Ahmed, said the exercise was designed to ensure that the plans reflected the realities and needs of stakeholders involved in the implementation of the programme.

Engr. Gibrimu appreciated stakeholders for their continued commitment and support towards the implementation of NG-SURWASH activities in Gombe State.

He urged participants to actively participate in the review sessions, stressing that their contributions, observations and requests for clarification would help improve the quality and relevance of the documents.

According to him, the plans would serve as reliable working documents after incorporating stakeholders’ inputs and securing their collective ownership and acceptance.

The General Manager explained that the three plans were developed to strengthen institutional and human capacity while improving the effective and sustainable implementation of the NG-SURWASH Programme.

Also speaking, the NG-SURWASH Programme Coordinator, Gombe State Project Coordination Unit, Engr. Usman Abubakar Aliyu, congratulated participants for being part of the validation exercise.

He urged them to redouble their efforts towards gaining a deeper understanding of the various components of the programme, saying such knowledge would contribute to achieving the expected results.

The Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Environmental Protection Agency, GOSEPA, Dr. Auwalu Baba Jada, called for stronger teamwork and collaboration among the implementing agencies and other stakeholders.

Dr. Jada said the agencies were complementary and that effective cooperation would lead to more coordinated, harmonious and sustainable outcomes in the WASH sector.

He also commended the NG-SURWASH Programme Coordinator for his continuous support and guidance to the implementing agencies.

Participants at the workshop included RUWASSA staff, Local Government Area WASH Coordinators, Monitoring and Evaluation Officers from Akko, Balanga, Dukku, Kwami, Kaltungo, Shongom, Nafada and Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Areas.

Members of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committees, WASHCOMs, from the participating LGAs also attended the exercise.

To facilitate the technical sessions, RUWASSA engaged experienced resource persons to guide participants through the three documents and explain their practical application.

Assoc. Prof. Adamu Jibir, Technical Assistant on Social Safeguards at the SPCU, presented the objectives, expected outcomes and approach of the workshop.

Dr. Lukman Shiji Sadiq presented the Standard Operating Procedure, while Dr. Musa Abdu of Gombe State University handled the Human Resource Management Plan developed by RUWASSA.

The Operations and Maintenance Plan was presented by Dr. Abubakar Umar Yuguda, Technical Assistant on Environmental Safeguards and Environmental Specialist.

Participants who spoke during the workshop commended RUWASSA and the NG-SURWASH Programme for organizing the validation exercise.

They pledged to contribute meaningfully to the review and validation process, noting that the three plans would help strengthen institutional capacity, improve programme coordination and support more effective implementation of WASH interventions across the state.

The workshop featured interactive discussions, stakeholders’ observations and contributions on the three documents, technical presentations and a group photograph.

The validation exercise is expected to pave the way for the adoption of the three plans as practical reference documents for strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring more effective and sustainable delivery of the NG-SURWASH Programme in Gombe State.

By Mukhtar Sani Saulawa, Gombe

Northeastern University, Gombe, has received a courtesy visit from the General Manager of the Gombe State Water Board, Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad, who visited the institution to assess the water supply challenges facing the university.

The visit provided an opportunity for the university management to present the difficulties it has been experiencing in providing adequate water for students and staff, particularly due to the absence of a direct water supply system to the campus.

Speaking during the engagement, the Danlawan of Gombe Pro-Chancellor and Founder of Northeastern University, Sani Jauro, described water as an essential resource for the smooth operation of the university, noting that the institution has been making significant efforts to ensure that students and staff have access to water despite the challenges.

Dr. Jauro explained that the university has had to rely heavily on water tankers to transport water over long distances to the campus, a situation that has led to increased operational costs due to the rising expenses of diesel, vehicle maintenance, and logistics.

He added that maintaining a constant supply of water is critical for the university because students residing on campus cannot be left without water even for a short period, especially as the institution strives to maintain high standards of cleanliness and environmental management.

The Founder also noted that the university has plans to develop a green and environmentally friendly campus, including the establishment of gardens and botanical spaces for academic and ecological purposes, which would require a reliable and sustainable water supply.

Dr. Jauro expressed appreciation to the General Manager for personally visiting the university to assess the situation, describing the visit as a clear demonstration of the Water Board’s willingness to support the institution in addressing its challenges.

In his response, the General Manager of the Gombe State Water Board, Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad, acknowledged the concerns raised by the university and assured the management that the Water Board would study the situation carefully in order to determine practical ways of improving water supply to the campus.

Also present during the visit, the Vice-Chancellor of Northeastern University, Yusuph Amuda Yahaya, expressed appreciation to the Water Board for its interest in addressing the university’s needs, noting that reliable water supply is essential for the continued growth and development of the institution.

By : Zulqarnain Muhammad Inuwa

In a move to prevent flooding in this year’s rainy season, the Bauchi State Government has launched a statewide desilting campaign across all twenty local government areas.

The exercise which was in response to early flood warnings issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency NiMET covers clearing of drainages, culverts, and waterways, with the aim of reducing the threat of flooding and promoting environmental safety across the State.

The campaign was flagged off in the state capital where government officials, environmental workers, and community members gathered to commence the clearing exercise.

Addressing Journalists during the exercise the Commissioner for Housing and Environment Danlami Ahmed Kawule said the move was in line with governor Bala Mohammed’s directive to address flood risks early rather than waiting for emergencies.

Danlami Kawule therefore called on residents to support the government’s effort by maintaining clean environments by avoiding indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

On his part, the Dg BASEPA Dr. Muhammad Bose stressed that desilting is a continuous process due to the recurring issue of runoff waste, especially in densely populated and poorly drained areas.

Muhammad Bose call on general public to avoid dumping refuse on drainage to avoid flooding.