Delta spends N50.4m on hygiene facilities
By Mike Odiegwu
Published: Saturday, 14 Feb 2009
The Delta State Government has spent over N50million on hygiene facilities to ensure proper sanitation in the state.

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Photo file
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan

The government also said that it was committed to meeting the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by 50 per cent the population of people without access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation by 2015.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan disclosed this through his commissioners in-charge of Water Resources Development and Education, Mr. George Timinimi, and Mrs. Elizabeth Uvoh-Gardner, respectively on Tuesday, during the International Year of Sanitation and Hand Washing Campaign in Asaba.

Gardner said the state government had over the years made appreciable impact in the provision of portable water both in the urban and rural areas of the state.

“With a view to meeting the Millennium Development Goal, the state government in 2008 approved the construction of 54 sanitation facilities across the state. This is in addition to numerous water schemes that dot the rural areas of the state. My administration will partner with UNICEF to ensure that the Millennium Development Goal is met,” Uduaghan said.

Timinimi explained that the 54 sanitation facilities included 19 latrine blocks of two units each, 21 urinal blocks of two units each and “fourteen-hand washing facilities in schools, health centres, public places, markets and motor parts across the state at a cots of N22.4 million.”

“The construction of these projects has since commenced and will be completed by the end of February 2009. At the moment plans are on to sensitize households without such facilities to build their own latrines,” he said.

He urged the local government councils to complement the roles of the state government in that regard, adding that “under the UNICEF 2008 water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects implementation, a total of 10 water supply schemes, powered by 240 watt from solar modules are being built in schools and some communities.

“Also, the rehabilitation of five broken down water schemes at Ugbuwangwe and Ekurede-Itsekiri in Warri South LGA, Uvwiama in Ughelli North LGA, Emue-Ebendo in Ndokwa West LGA and Ovu-Inland in Ethiope East LGA is ongoing. The local cost for the WASH programme is estimated at N25.8 million. All these projects are expected to be completed by the end of February 2009.”

Naira 22,400,000 ~ $149333.3 at Naira 150 per $1

Now What Timinimi is saying is that money can build is 19 LATRINE blocks of two units each, 21 urinal blocks, and fourteen-hand washing facilities? I hope the LATRINE blocks are not PIT TOILETS or should I call them VIPit Toilets now? Roflmao!!

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