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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has hailed the level of commitment, dedication and political will of the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, to actualise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasising its readiness to partner with the state government to realise its objectives.
This was as Mbah restated the provision of safe water, dignified sanitation and good hygiene as his government’s priorities, stressing that the state government is prepared to meet the target of ending open defecation by 2025.
The Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), UNICEF Nigeria, Dr. Jane Bevan, stated this during the presentation of WASH Master Plan by the international agency to the governor at the Government House, Enugu, on Monday.
Briefing journalists, Bevan said: ‘We came here today to present this preliminary master plan for achieving the SDGs by 2030.
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“I think that with the commitment and dedication that the governor has demonstrated to me today, I think that Enugu is on the right track and could definitely achieve this.”
“Efforts are made on all the investments, in human resources, in infrastructure and behaviour change, as well as the private sector.
“There are different elements that will need to come together to make water, sanitation and hygiene happen in the state. But I think the governor has shown strong political will and he can make it happen.”
While appreciating the support of UNICEF so far, Mbah said the administration had, since its inauguration, declared a state of emergency on water provision because of its importance to life itself.
He said that with the setting up of the state Economic Planning Commission, where the governor and the local government chairmen meet once every month to discuss and chart development plans, it is easy for the local councils to immediately set up and take ownership of WASH projects across the state to ensure that open defecation is ended by 2025.
