The Jigawa State government has spent just N500 million on the provision of improved toilets in schools, hospitals, markets, and motor parks across the state.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Ibrahim Hannungiwa, disclosed this on Wednesday, November 1, in Dutse, the state’s capital.
He said the government had adopted proactive measures to ensure the sustainability of its leading position as an Open Defecation Free (ODF) state.
According to Hannungiwa, the feat was achieved by putting in a lot of effort through the execution of viable policies and programmes in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The Commissioner said the state had set up a committee to work out modalities for the sustainability of its ODF status by ensuring total eradication of the menace.
According to him, “Under this committee, more standard public conveniences would be provided at public places and along highways in the state.
The state government has done a lot in the area of public enlightenment on the importance of using toilets, especially in rural communities.
Jigawa State is the first and only state so far declared Open Defecation Free in the country by UNICEF.”