By Najib Sani, Gombe
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Gombe State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) have tasked stakeholders in Gombe State on the adoption of faecal sludge management.
The charge was given during an advocacy initiative to accelerate FSM adoption in Gombe state, organised by UNICEF for stakeholders including the media in collaboration with Gombe State RUWASSA, and held at the Teachers Resource Centre in Kwami local government area on Wednesday.
According to Communication Officer at UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Opeyemi, Olagunju, safely managed faecal sludge is crucial for protecting public health, preventing environmental contamination, and building 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 stir a public discuss on the need for a safe and hygienic faecal sludge management strategy in the state, saying it is also linked to attaining an open defecation free Gombe State.
During the meeting, Gombe State commissioner for water, environment and forestry resources, Mohammed Sa’idu Fawu, represented by director 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 seeks to inform, educate, and mobilise action across all levels of society.
According to him, the proposed FSM framework would encompass clear institutional roles, strong regulatory enforcement, private sector engagement, construction of faecal sludge treatment plants, capacity building, and sustained community engagement.
He also highlighted the potential benefits of turning waste into wealth, noting that treated faecal sludge can be converted into energy, bio-fertiliser, or water for non-potable uses.
