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NEWSAN Urges Reforms, Private Investment For Water, Sanitation Services
By Adesewa George
The Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) has called for stronger sustainability measures, institutional reforms and increased private sector participation to improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in Nigeria.
The National Coordinator of NEWSAN, Mr Attah Benson, made the call during an advocacy visit to the Sustainable Urban-Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme Office on Friday in Abuja.
Benson said the engagement was aimed at strengthening collaboration among stakeholders, reviewing implementation progress in SURWASH states and identifying areas requiring additional support.
According to him, the programme supports Nigeria’s commitment under the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership to ensure citizens have access to safe and affordable water and sanitation services.
He said the programme, which began in seven states, was already influencing actions and reforms at the federal level.
Benson commended SURWASH for supporting Katsina State’s attainment of open defecation-free (ODF) status, describing it as one of only two ODF states in the country.
He said advocacy visits to project states showed progress in implementation but also revealed gaps in behavioural change interventions, institutional capacity and coordination among implementing partners.
“These engagements provided opportunities to strengthen multi-sectoral coordination at the state level, improve collaboration among partners and enhance programme delivery,” he said.
Benson also called for intensified integrated WASH interventions to tackle neglected tropical diseases prevalent in many states, including SURWASH implementation states.
He urged states lagging behind in ODF attainment to strengthen implementation and sustainability efforts, stressing that more than half of the SDGs depended directly or indirectly on progress in the WASH sector.
The NEWSAN coordinator reiterated the need for stronger private sector participation in the sector, noting that efforts over the years had produced limited results.
“States continue to look to the national level for stronger direction in encouraging private sector investment in the sector,” he said.
Benson reaffirmed NEWSAN’s commitment to providing technical support to stakeholders nationwide despite financial constraints.
Responding, the National Programme Coordinator of SURWASH, Mr Abdulhamid Gwaram, described NEWSAN as a critical partner in implementing the programme across participating states.
Gwaram said SURWASH differed from previous interventions because it combined infrastructure development with measurable service delivery outcomes.
“The challenge is that you cannot test service delivery without infrastructure, and you also cannot justify infrastructure without a proper service delivery system.
“What makes SURWASH different is that it combines infrastructure with service delivery,” he said.
He said the programme was shifting its focus from infrastructure provision alone to sustainability, accountability and long-term functionality of WASH facilities.
“If a state constructs a N10 billion water treatment plant that does not provide reliable water access for the people, then it has failed in terms of service delivery.
“But if a simple hand pump repaired with N10,000 begins to serve 100 people in a community, then meaningful service has been restored,” he said.
Gwaram said the programme had introduced measures to encourage institutions with effective maintenance systems, staffing structures and operational accountability.
He called on state governments to strengthen operational support for water and sanitation agencies through improved logistics, mobility and field monitoring capacity.
On private sector participation, Gwaram said stronger regulation and institutional reforms were necessary to attract investment into the WASH sector.
“At the moment, the private sector will not be interested in operating in a weak environment without proper regulation.
“So, we must strengthen regulations and improve infrastructure to make the WASH sector attractive to investors,” he said.
He added that the programme had introduced a “creditworthiness programme” to improve the financial and managerial capacity of state water agencies and prepare them for long-term investment partnerships.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 700 million dollar World Bank SURWASH programme, inaugurated on Feb. 14, 2022, has a six-year implementation period.
The programme is designed to strengthen sector policies and institutions to improve water and sanitation services in urban, small-town and rural communities.
SURWASH is currently being implemented in Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau states, while Abia, Bauchi, Benue, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ogun, Jigawa and Taraba have recently been added to the programme. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
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VALGEE Transport Services Limited is expanding its fleet with additional Toyota Sienna vehicles as the company moves to strengthen passenger capacity and improve service delivery across its Jos–Abuja and Jos–Makurdi routes.
The expansion comes as the company seeks to improve vehicle availability, support more predictable departure schedules and respond more effectively to passenger demand.
VALGEE has established a presence in interstate transport, particularly along the Jos–Abuja corridor. The latest fleet expansion represents a further investment in its existing operations, with a focus on improving reliability and maintaining service consistency.
Beyond adding vehicles, the company is also working to strengthen its operational systems, including vehicle coordination, booking processes and the overall passenger experience.
Mr. Liberty Makwin, CPA, CNA, Chief Executive Officer of VALGEE Transport Services Limited, said the investment reflects the company’s commitment to building a transport service that can accommodate growing demand without compromising its standards.
“Our focus has always been on building a transport service passengers can depend on. As demand grows, we are strengthening our capacity, improving our systems and ensuring that the VALGEE experience continues to meet the standard our passengers expect.”
The additional vehicles are expected to provide greater flexibility in managing bookings and scheduled departures while reducing pressure on existing fleet capacity, particularly during busy travel periods.
With the expansion, VALGEE is reinforcing its focus on operational growth, dependable service and improved travel options for passengers travelling between Jos, Abuja and Makurdi.
The camp of the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Adewole Adebayo, has urged Nigerians to scrutinise those aspiring to lead the country ahead of the 2027 general election while faulting President Bola Tinubu over reports that he will be absent from the campaigns.
The Movement Adebayo for President, MAP, made its position known in a statement titled ‘Choosing Between President Tinubu and Citizen Adebayo: A Social Democratic Manifesto That Signposts National Redemption’.
Highlighting Adebayo’s manifesto tagged ‘Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity’, the campaign team said the SDP candidate is a better alternative with a policy framework focused on poverty reduction, national security and economic development.
The SDP presidential candidate’s camp criticised Tinubu over his reported decision not to participate directly in the APC’s presidential campaign tour, arguing that candidates should engage with voters and explain their policy proposals.
According to the campaign team, the President’s decision to concentrate on governance while the APC Presidential Campaign Council campaigns on his behalf raises questions about direct engagement between presidential candidates and the electorate.
The campaign team further urged APC governors and party leaders to prioritise national interests in their political calculations, expressing concern over the country’s economic and security challenges.
It, however, said Nigerians should look beyond political affiliations and assess candidates based on their policy proposals, governing philosophy and plans for addressing the country’s development needs.
Highlighting Adebayo’s policy document, the campaign team described ‘Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity’ as a comprehensive blueprint for addressing Nigeria’s socioeconomic challenges.
It said the manifesto outlines a development agenda built around 12 priority areas, including national security, food security, electricity, affordable energy, jobs and enterprise, education and skills development, healthcare, modern infrastructure, innovation, transparent government, national unity and Nigeria’s international relations.
According to the campaign team, the document provides proposed strategies for moving Nigeria from poverty to prosperity, strengthening national security and improving citizens’ access to essential services.
It noted that the manifesto also incorporates a four-year delivery framework intended to establish measurable targets and track progress throughout a potential Adebayo administration.
According to the team, Adebayo’s first 100 days in office would focus on establishing institutional mechanisms for monitoring government performance and identifying priority areas for intervention.
Among the proposed measures are the establishment of a Presidential Delivery and Performance Office, directives to Federal Government ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, on implementing the objectives of Chapter II of the Constitution, and baseline assessments of the security, power, food, health, education and infrastructure sectors.
The framework also proposes transparency measures for public procurement and expenditure, federal-state delivery agreements and the publication of a presidential performance dashboard.
The team said these measures are intended to strengthen accountability and provide Nigerians with a mechanism for tracking government performance.
The campaign team added that Adebayo’s proposed priorities would include improving security, stabilising essential services, expanding agricultural production, strengthening domestic energy supply and initiating priority electricity and transport projects. The plan also proposes youth skills development and employment programmes as part of efforts to expand economic opportunities.
According to the team, in years two and three, Adebayo’s administration will focus on expanding industrial clusters and infrastructure projects, improving electricity distribution, and investing in irrigation, food storage and processing, pharmaceutical production, technology, manufacturing, rail transportation, broadband, housing and water supply.
In the fourth year, the team said an Adebayo-led SDP government will focus on completing priority projects, strengthening successful programmes through permanent institutions, publishing audited performance reports and presenting Nigerians with an end-of-term scorecard.
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