Yobe Splashes N620m On 432 Public Latrines Project

SAN FRANCISCO, February 11, (THEWILL) - About 432 public latrines are to be built by the Yobe State Government at the cost of N620 million as part of the moves to boost public hygiene in the state.

Some of the latrines, which are to be built partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB),  are to be located in schools and other public places in  the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

Unveiling the plan at a media briefing in Damaturu, the state capital, the Programme Manager (PM) of AfDB in the State, Engr.

Musa Haruna,   said the provision of latrines in those places is a component  of the sanitation aspect of the AfDB programme in the state.

Haruna, who disclosed that the project will be executed in phases, said contracts for "252 blocks of latrines comprising of 760 compartments have already been awarded in 10 Local Government Areas  , while the remaining 180 for the remaining seven  Local Government Areas  will soon be advertised for prospective contractors.

" While urging the people of the state  to take ownership of the projects after completion so as to ensure maximum value for the facilities, Haruna said the AfDB is intervening in over 1,000 communities across the state in the area of water supply through the drilling of motorised boreholes, concrete lined hand-dug wells, and solar powered boreholes.

"You will agree with me that open defecation is such a common practice among the people and its very harmful especially in public places like markets and schools.

Open defecation can cause a lot of health hazards like cholera, and diarrhea among children.

"This programme is therefore aimed at negating some of these practices and in turn it will reduce the health hazards associated with those practices.

Our target is the school children in schools and public places like markets etc," he said.