By Abdullahi Lukman
The Society for Water and Sanitation has called for improved financing, institutional reforms and stronger collaboration among stakeholders to boost Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in Plateau State.
Speaking during an advocacy visit on Friday, NEWSAN National Coordinator, Attah Benson, said strengthening the sector requires sustainable funding mechanisms, better regulatory frameworks and coordinated long-term planning.
He urged the state to consider creating a dedicated “WASH-procurement budget line” that would allocate a percentage of project funds to water and sanitation services.
Benson said the visit was part of ongoing efforts to deepen engagement and support reforms, noting that the organisation had maintained consistent advocacy in the state through various engagements in recent years.
He stressed that stronger WASH systems are essential to tackling public health challenges, including Neglected Tropical Diseases such as schistosomiasis and trachoma, which are linked to poor access to clean water and sanitation.
He cited global efforts under the Sanitation and Water for All initiative, which promotes high-level financing commitments by governments, and highlighted outcomes from its April 2026 finance ministers’ meeting that emphasised investment in climate-resilient infrastructure.
The NEWSAN coordinator also underscored the importance of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6, noting that progress in water and sanitation is critical to advancing health, education and economic development.
He added that the sector holds economic potential through improved service delivery, efficient tariffs and opportunities in sanitation value chains such as faecal sludge management.
Responding, Plateau State Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Bashir Lawandi, represented by SURWASH Coordinator Jonathan Malann, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to collaboration and sector improvement.
He said the state had maintained strong performance in national assessments but acknowledged ongoing challenges.
According to him, 16 of the state’s 17 local government areas are affected by water- and sanitation-related diseases, with trachoma still present in at least one area.
He said the government is implementing a results-based WASH programme focused on ending open defecation, with plans to increase the number of local governments achieving Open Defecation Free status.
Lawandi emphasised the need for sustained community engagement, infrastructure development and behavioural change to meet sanitation targets, adding that the government would continue working closely with stakeholders, including sanitation workers, to improve service delivery and public health outcomes.
