In line with the commitment of the Plateau State Government through the Plateau State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASSA) to consolidate on efforts on the 273 communities (in Shendam and Riyom LGAs) which were moved out of Open Defecation, a stakeholders meeting with the Traditional Council in collaboration with the WASH Departments of the LGAs was held. The meeting was initiated in order to help recover these communities from relapse as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns and the vandalization of PRUWASSA office.In line with the commitment of the Plateau State Government through the Plateau State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASSA) to consolidate on efforts on the 273 communities (in Shendam and Riyom LGAs) which were moved out of Open Defecation, a stakeholders meeting with the Traditional Council in collaboration with the WASH Departments of the LGAs was held. The meeting was initiated in order to help recover these communities from relapse as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns and the vandalization of PRUWASSA office.
The meeting which held on Tuesday 18th to Wednesday 19th January 2022 in Riyom LGA and Thursday 20th to Friday 21st January 2022 in Shendam LGA had in attendance WASH Directors from both LGAs. The meeting was poised to chat a way forward towards achieving the Open Defecation Road Map which seeks to take Plateau State out of Open Defecation by 2023. Recall that the Plateau State Governor, Rt Hon (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong had in 2019 inaugurated the Plateau State Open Defecation Free Action Plan Development Committee with the GM of PRUWASSA Engr Peter Kassam as the Chairman.
In a related development, the GM PRUWASSA and his team met with Stakeholders and Traditional Rulers in collaboration with WASH Depts. All district heads of Riyom and Shendam LGAs with their ward heads were sensitized on the need to revisit the issue of Open Defecation in the LGAs.
Recall also that the Attah Atteng is the WASH Ambassador of the State nominated among names PRUWASSA sent in 2019 to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) – Clean Nigeria : use the Toilet Campaign Office. In Northern Nigeria, only the Attah Atteng and the Emir of Katsina are WASH Ambassadors approved by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources awarded by the Hon Minister for Water Resources Engineer Sulaiman in 2021.
In Shendam LGA, the GM PRUWASSA led his team and Shendam WASH department staff to all the four districts headquarters of Shendam. The meeting had in attendance the district heads of Doka Tofa, Shendam Town, Dorok and Derteng, wards heads, religious heads,women representative,youth WASHCOM, WCA and Representatives of all ethnicities in Shendam.
The meeting was fruitful, as all promised to sensitize theirs wards and communities to ensure Shendam becomes open defecation free.
It is worthy to note that Executive Chairman Shendam LGA Miskoom Alex Nwantuam has signed the By-Law banning Open Defecation and indiscriminate waste disposal in Shendam LGA. being the first Executive Chairman to take that bold step.
Symbolic handover of the By-law was done by GM Pruwassa (Team Lead) to all the District Heads and a copy each to be shared to each Ward of each District.
Following these, matching orders given to the GM PRUWASSA Engr Peter Kassam by the National Coordinator CNC Mrs Opara during the 28th Regular National Water Resources Council held in Abuja (12th to 17th December 2021 to ensure that PRUWASSA moves Riyom and Shendam LGAs out of Open Defecation status by April 2022.
Nigeria Star News 