From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Plateau State Government has said that it’s working to ensure that the state is open defecation free by the end of 2027.
To this end, the government has pledged its commitment to carrying out comprehensive reforms in the water and sanitation management.
Coordinator, World Bank-Assisted Sustainable Urban Rural Water Supply and Sanitary Health (SURWASH), Mr. Jonathan Malann, said in Jos as a first step, the state set up modalities to establish a water sector regulatory commission.
The commission, according to him, will set standards on water management, construction of boreholes, promotion of hygiene and other sanitation related issues in the state.
He told our correspondent in an interview in Jos that one of the aims of the commission is to regulate all aspects of water usage, ensure that boreholes were not discriminately constructed and compulsory provision of conveniences in every public facility
Malann said that the commission would also fashion out a comprehensive water management system.
He said that the compulsory provision of conveniences is to make the state open defecation free by 2027, adding that SURWASH programme is geared towards dealing with some of these challenges that have been identified in the water sector, especially rehabilitating some of the water treatment plant that had been down since 2014.
He said that water supply situation in Jos and other areas in Plateau State has become critical, with infrastructure dating back to the 1930s in a state of decay because Investments in treatment plants and distribution networks have not been matched by adequate operational and maintenance funding.
Malann expressed regret that the percentage of the population with access to potable water has plummeted from 60 per cent to as low as 15 per cent, prompting the government to seek alternative solutions, including partnerships with international organizations.