The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Gombe State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) have urged stakeholders in Gombe State to adopt faecal sludge management.
This call was made during an advocacy initiative aimed at accelerating FSM adoption in Gombe State, organised by UNICEF for stakeholders including the media in collaboration with Gombe State RUWASSA. The event took place at the Teachers Resource Centre in Kwami local government area on Wednesday.
Opeyemi Olagunju, Communication Officer at UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, emphasised that safely managed faecal sludge is essential for protecting public health, preventing environmental pollution, and enhancing climate resilience.
“Climate-smart FSM refers to the adoption of sanitation solutions that ensure safe containment, emptying, transport, treatment, and reuse or disposal of faecal waste.
“Recognising this need, UNICEF recently facilitated learning experience for technical staff of Gombe State RUWASSA, equipping them with insights and knowledge on best practices in faecal sludge management. This learning exposure laid the groundwork for action.
“Today’s engagement seeks to equip participants with insights and knowledge on best practices in FSM,” he said.
He urged the media to understand FSM and spark public discussion on the need for a safe and hygienic faecal sludge management strategy in the state, stating that it is also connected to achieving an open defecation free Gombe State.
During the meeting, Gombe State’s commissioner for water, environment, and forestry resources, Mohammed Sa’idu Fawu, represented by the director of water in the ministry, Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq, reiterated the government’s commitment to developing a functional, inclusive, and sustainable Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) framework.
He emphasised that improperly managed faecal sludge poses serious public health and environmental risks, including groundwater contamination and threats to human dignity.
He noted that the awareness campaign was timely and commendable, as it aims to inform, educate, and mobilise action across all levels of society.
According to him, the proposed FSM framework would include clear institutional roles, strong regulatory enforcement, private sector involvement, the construction of faecal sludge treatment plants, capacity building, and ongoing community engagement.
He also emphasised the potential advantages of turning waste into wealth, noting that treated faecal sludge can be converted into energy, bio-fertiliser, or water for non-potable applications.
