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Suzan Edeh
WaterAid Nigeria has called on the Bauchi State Government to immediately establish official faecal sludge dumping sites to avert potential disease outbreaks and boost the local economy.
Mr. Nanpet Chuktu, Head of Programmes for WaterAid Nigeria, made the appeal during a risk assessment workshop in Bauchi organised by the Development Exchange Centre (DEC).
Chuktu noted that while the government has allocated land for these sites, structural delays have led to the dangerous dumping of human waste on agricultural lands and near residential communities.
Chuktu urged Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) agencies to strictly enforce safety regulations across the entire sanitation chain. This includes oversight on containment, evacuation, transportation, and proper disposal.
He warned that indiscriminate dumping poses an immediate threat to public health. However, he stressed that fixing the system offers major economic incentives.
“There are lots of opportunities in the sanitation economy if properly managed because it can create jobs for toilet business operators, pit emptiers, and farmers.” Nanpet said.
Speaking at the same event, DEC Executive Director Mrs. Helen Abah revealed that her organisation faces stiff challenges in recovering sanitation loans given to households.
Despite this, she affirmed that DEC remains committed to funding improved household toilets to eliminate open defecation.
Abah demanded urgent, practical state action to activate designated waste disposal sites across the three local government areas piloting the Sustainable Hygiene and Sanitation for All (SHF) project:
Making these sites operational, she argued, is the critical next step to securing both public health and environmental cleanliness in Bauchi State.
