Sanivation, WaterAid Transform Sanitation in Bauchi, Targeting 900,000 People Across Four LGAs

By Uzairu Dauda Bunga:

In a transformative step toward improved public health and environmental hygiene, the Sanivation Project, in partnership with WaterAid and funded by the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund, is set to benefit over 900,000 people across Tafawa Balewa, Misau, Bauchi, and Jama’are Local Government Areas in Bauchi State.

The project, launched in November 2024, aims to promote city-wide inclusive sanitation and waste-to-wealth solutions, emphasizing a human-centered approach that engages community members at every level.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting, the Sanitation and Hygiene Manager at WaterAid Bauchi, Mrs. Victoria Alli, stated that the project is scaling up household sanitation services, supporting toilet businesses, and fostering innovation to sustainably manage urban sanitation challenges.

Mrs Alli explained that the project trained toilet business owners, pit emptiers, and created awareness teams to generate demand for toilet use across communities.

She revealed that the project is working closely with the Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) to trigger demand for improved sanitation in 402 communities in Misau, 372 in Tafawa Balewa, and 343 in Jama’are. Many households have already begun constructing and using improved toilets.

Mrs Alli said Hygiene behavior change campaigns have also been launched in the selected communities, focusing on personal hygiene, environmental cleanliness, menstrual hygiene, food safety, and water management, saying local hygiene promoters were trained to drive this change from within the communities.

She added that the project seeks to stimulate economic growth through public-private partnerships and the creation of a robust sanitation value chain, including toilet production, waste containment, safe pit emptying, and waste reuse or disposal.

Representing the Bauchi Commissioner of Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajiya Habiba Adamu stressed the need for women’s inclusion, particularly to address menstrual hygiene challenges.

She praised the initiative, noting that the state already dedicates one day each month to city-wide sanitation.

From the Kenyan branch of Sanivation, Mr. Thomas Nelson outlined the project’s objective to develop a comprehensive sanitation plan for Tafawa Balewa and Bauchi LGAs.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks and providing clear, actionable solutions along the sanitation value chain from waste containment to reuse or safe disposal.

Naomi Korir, also from Sanivation Kenya, reported that 15 Toilet Business Owners (TBOs) were trained in Bauchi and 10 in Tafawa Balewa to ensure affordable, accessible, and technically sound pit latrine construction. However, she raised concerns over critical infrastructure gaps, such as lack of mechanical evacuation services in Tafawa Balewa, absence of fecal sludge treatment and disposal sites, unsafe disposal of untreated waste into farms and open spaces and lack of regulation for manual waste evacuators.

She called for better coordination between the public sector and development partners, including the formation of a Citywide Sanitation Plan (CWSP) and a Sanitation Coordination Committee.

In his report on sanitation progress in Bauchi LGA, Mr. Mairiga Shammah, Sanivation-WaterAid Project Coordinator, highlighted that only one mechanical waste evacuator is owned by BASEPA, with two others owned by ATBUTH and DSS, and three privately owned units serving the area, collectively performing just 72 empties per month.

He noted that 20 certified manual pit emptiers are operating in each of Bauchi and Tafawa Balewa LGAs, creating 223 jobs in Bauchi and 120 jobs in Tafawa Balewa, yet, many communities still rely on unhygienic evacuation practices, posing serious public health risks.

Mr Shammah emphasized only sustainable sanitation practices will protect Communities from Cholera outbreaks and and waterborne diseases.

He stated that the project is addressing gaps left by previous interventions and is committed to achieving open defecation-free status across the intervention LGAs.

Commending the initiative, the District Head of Bula, Alhaji Abubakar Musa Sale, said the project has constructed over 200 modern pit latrines in his district and significantly raised community awareness.

He urged residents to continue supporting sanitation policies and called on other development partners to replicate Sanivation’s inclusive and community-driven approach.