Jigawa Gov., Umar Namadi gets new appointment from UNICEF

The Jigawa governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has been appointed by the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) as ambassador for Open Defecation Free (ODF) in Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the Jigawa Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Ibrahim Garba in an exclusive interview with Tribune Online in Dutse, Jigawa state capital on Wednesday.

“The governor’s appointment followed the efforts for the state in winning fighting against open defecation,” he said.

The Commissioner explained that; “Jigawa is the first and only state declared Open Defecation Free in the country by the United Nations Children Fonds (UNICEF)”.

According to him, “The state attained the position after a lot of efforts through executions of various projects and implementation of so many policies in collaboration with UNICEF, federal ministry for water resources”.

Alhaji Ibrahim Garba noted that “the state spends over N500 million in the provision of toilets at schools, hospitals, public places such as markets, motor parks and massive public enlightenment on the importance of toilets at residents of everyone and rural areas in particular.

He further disclosed that in an effort by the state to maintain its position and improve the situation, “Governor Malam Umar Namadi has approved the constitution of Sustainable Plan Community on Open Defecation Free in the State”.

Alhaji Garba stated that; “The sustainable plan committee would work for the plans and implementation of how to sustain open defecation free in the state.

“Under this committee, more standard public convince places would be provided at public places and along higher ways across the state. Enough and uninterrupted water would be made available at any point of public toilet.”

“The law burning open defecation would be enacted in the state in the first quarter of the next year. Before then massive enlightenment campaign would be carried out for good three months before law would starts working”, he emphasised.