Mr John Wali, Senior Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Advisor at Self Help Africa (SHA), has urged other Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to emulate the exemplary progress made by Cross River and Kano States in advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.
SDG 6 aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Speaking at a three-day advocacy strategy workshop for the NEWSAN chapters of Kano and Cross River, hosted by the Women Environmental Programme (WEP) in Abuja, Mr Wali highlighted the states’ remarkable achievements as models for nationwide replication.
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In an interview with the WASH Media Network, he emphasised NEWSAN’s extensive national footprint and the significant successes achieved through targeted advocacy in these two states under the WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) programme.
“Cross River State stands out as a shining example,” Mr Wali stated. “The governor has assented to the Cross River State Water Supply and Sanitation Law No. 5 of 2025 and recently launched the state’s comprehensive WASH Policy. These milestones reflect strong political will and He credited much of this progress to the WS4H programme, while applauding the pivotal roles played by NEWSAN and the WASH Media Network in both states.
“The government has demonstrated real commitment by disbursing counterpart funds, enabling substantial advancements in WASH infrastructure and service delivery,” he added.
Mr Wali described Kano and Cross River as “model states” for the WS4H programme, underscoring their success in advocacy, policy reform, and resource mobilisation.
He issued a clear call to action: “We urge other states and the FCT to replicate these efforts.”
He noted that by adopting similar bold commitments, enacting enabling laws, developing robust policies, releasing counterpart funding, and strengthening advocacy, Nigeria can accelerate progress toward universal access to safe water and sanitation.
Dr Priscilla Mbarumun Achakpa, the founder and Global President of the Women Environmental Programme, who facilitated key sessions, urged NEWSAN in both states to look beyond immediate achievement. She noted that no success can be achieved without adhering to the fundamental pillars of advocacy.
The Women Environmental Programme (WEP) is a Nigerian-based non-governmental organisation established in 1997. It addresses environmental pollution and issues affecting women and children through advocacy, capacity building, and policy engagement.
The workshop concluded with the nomination of advocacy leads and deputies from each state’s contingent, paving the way for continued momentum in sub-national WASH advocacy.
