By Saeed Ahmad Bappah Gombe
Gombe State rural water supply and sanitation agency has flagged off a two days rally Campaign in two LGAs of Nafada and Shongom of Gombe State
RUWASSA Team led by the AGM LEAD WASH Malam Yayaha Umaru Shabewa who’s representing the General manager/project coordinator Engr Muhammad Gibirimu Ahmad(Dan Kaden Doma) was received at the Mai kaltungo palace by HRH Engr Sale Muhammad OON Emir of kaltungo and Deputy Chairman Gombe State Council of Emirs and chiefs.
The LEAD WASH said the purpose of the visit is to appreciates the support receiving from the emirate seek for more blessings/permission to visit Shongom for an assessment and more enlightening campaign about the issue of Open defecation as Shongom local Government will soon receive visitors that will access the town and ensure that there’s No single open defecation in which after their inspection a report wiill be submitted to Abuja and from there on Shongom local Government will attend Open Defecation free ODF.
He said the agency RUWASSA and it leadership are always praying and appreciating huge Support and purposeful leadership been receiving always from His Excellency Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya CON Dan majen Gombe in which all the activities is coming to reality because of his support and approvals
Responding the Emir of kaltungo urges the RUWASSA team to re-educate the people on the health and hygiene of the environment and the work of RUWASSA is very important to all rhe society both humans and Non human beings, after in which he appeal for the team to consider bringing more toilets and boholes to Shongom especially those that are living in the hills of that areas that are in dare needs of such facilities.
The team later proceeds to Shongom local Government area and they were received at the Secretariat by the Secretary Alhaji Saidu Manzo filiya before the arrival of the Executive Chairman Honourable Modi D Shelpidi and his counter part of pero chonge LCDA Chairman Honourable Professor Seni Barka.
The LEAD WASH Yahaya Shabewa has explained the purpose of the visit to the chairman as an advocacy visit and Rally in filiya for the attendment of Open defecation free ODF in Filiya as immediately after the Rally there will be some visitors for thorough inspection of all nooks and cronies of Shongom local Government for the local Government to be declared Open Defecation free ODF.
Our team received additional blessings in filiya town by the District Head of filiya Alhaji Shuaibu Ibrahim Maina who was represented by the Dagacin Jauro Sajo Malam Musa Hashimu said the traditional leader is a very displined person that don’t allow his people to break any law talk less of such kind of important one that will benefit the whole Shongom and it’s people, they promise to to abide by all that was taught to them
The team is always receiving more blessings from Alhaji Hussaini Abdulkadir an expert from RUWASSA Abuja, wgo is shedding more lights on all basic necessities by law for the achieving of the ODF and some benefits from international Donor agencies like Unicef and other Agencies that will come up immediately, it will be infactfull projects that will benefit Shongom and Pero Chonge local Council development area.
Also the Executive Chairman Pero Chonge Professor Seni Barka has appreciate and call the advocacy timely he said the successes will be of their benefits, he assured RUWASSA that fifty percent of the people living in Shongom have Toilets in their Houses and we really witnesses improvements in the Healthcare of our people.
Like wise the Executive Chairman of Shongom local Government Honourable Modi D. Shelpidi has assures the team of all support to the attendment of his local Government to be declare Open Defecation free, he said he’s very mindful of this ODF campaign, he siad declaration is for the betterment and benefits of all and Sundry in our communities. This health issue has business with all Women, Children elders and all human beings. He urges the people in Shongom to maintain the sanitation even after the achievement of the ODF.
The Team from RUWASSA includes the Agency’s Secretary/Admin officer Adamu Abdulkadir Buji and all water quality officers of the agency.
The team later make a symbolic rally/campaign for the people of BOH, Filiya and Gwandum to cooperate with RUWASSA in ensuring every body has toilets in his house and to stop defacating outside.
Finally the team in company of Secretary Shongom local Government all councillors and wash units staff has make a colourful rally at all the villages surrounding filiya Town for them to the construction of toilets and avoiding the habits of ODF.
Ealier On Monday 14/9/2026 the team led by the AGM Yahaya Umaru Shabewa and the Secretary Adamu Abdulkadir Buji represented the General manager project coordinator Engr Muhammad Gibirimu Ahmad who’s attending an important meeting in Abuja has officially flagging off the Open Defecation free ODF campaign rally in Nafada with a royal courtesy visit to his royal highness the Emir of Nafada Alhaji Muhammadu Dadum Hamza, after the palace visit the team proceed to the main event of Awareness and campaign rally against open defecation and appealling to people for the construction of toilets in their houses and wash facilities in all communities around Nafada local Government area as the improvement will qualify Nafada to attend the Open Defecation free ODF
In His remarks the Emir of Nafada Alhaji Muhammad Dadum Hamza has directed all his Senior District Heads and District Heads to immediately mobilize their people for quick response on this all important campaign, He also promise to keep pushing to the logical conclusion of ensuring his town Nafada is declared Open Defecation free ODF.