Umar Idris Shuaibu – Kano
In a bid to enhance access to WASH facilities, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) Kano, has taken a step to award contracts for the provision of water and sanitation facilities in primary schools.
The Managing Director of RUWASA, Engr. Shamwilu Isah stated this after a bid opening and screening exercise for the prospective contractors held in RUWASA Office.
Engr. Shamwilu Isah said the projects would be executed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), under its Water and Sanitation (WASH) programme supported by the EU-Education and Youth Empowerment (EYE-P).
He said the initiative would help support the good intention of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf administration of modernizing learning centers across the state.
The Managing Director added that, the project will come in phases to the benefiting 30 schools in Nassarawa, Gwale, Kumbotso, Gezawa among others.
“Currently we screen all the contractors which we gave them equal opportunity, but making sure that all procurement laws are adhered to”, Shamwilu Isah.
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Speaking earlier, WASH Specialist UNICEF Office Kano, Uba Lawal in his speech said the project when completed would improve access to safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene services in schools.
“The lack of WASH facilities in schools are of serious concern as children who do not have access to water are most likely to lose interest in pursuing learning opportunities.
“Because they are forced to spend more time in search of water during school hours or stay out of school to recover from illness caused by the lack of these facilities”, Uba Lawal.
In his remark, Engr. Ibrahim Idris Deputy Director Planning Research and Statistics, Kano State Ministry for Public Procurement, Project Monitoring and Evaluation, said the exercise had succeeded in selecting those to be given the opportunity for executing the projects.
Ibrahim Idris stated that there is armful chance for others to apply in the subsequent projects tagged as phase II.
He urged the successful contractors to do the needful taking into consideration the specifications and laid down rules by the partners.
In his part, Director Planning and Community Mobilization RUWASA, Yusuf Abdullahi reiterated their commitment of providing clean water and sanitation facilities across the state, and urged the beneficiaries to be monitoring similar projects as it is done for their wellbeing.