The Kaduna State Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure has organised its 2026 stakeholders’ retreat under the World Bank-supported Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme to review progress and strengthen implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions across the state.
The retreat, held in Kano, brought together key stakeholders in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector, including members of the State Steering Committee, heads of implementing agencies and development partners, to assess project performance and chart a way forward.
Speaking at the opening of the retreat, the Permanent Secretary of the Kaduna State Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure, Alhaji Ashiru Abdu Na Abdu, said the programme is expected to deepen access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities while increasing public awareness on WASH services.
He explained that participating states are also expected to achieve measurable institutional reforms, strengthen sector governance, reduce or eliminate open defecation and improve the health and general well-being of citizens in benefiting local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary expressed optimism that Kaduna State would develop a robust sustainability framework to ensure that the gains recorded under the SURWASH Programme are institutionalised and expanded to all 23 local government areas of the state.
According to him, the retreat will also deliberate on strategies to improve project implementation, including integrating environmental and social safeguard assessments into WASH procurement processes and strengthening collaboration with the education sector through the establishment of WASH clubs in beneficiary schools.
He said each session of the retreat is expected to produce clear action plans identifying responsible institutions, implementation timelines and measurable outputs, assuring participants of his commitment to personally monitor the execution of all agreed resolutions.
Also speaking, the Director of Water Resources in the Kaduna State Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure, Engineer Osman Ibrahim Umar, said the retreat provides an opportunity for stakeholders to review the state’s performance under the programme, identify implementation gaps and develop practical solutions.
Engineer Umar noted that the SURWASH Programme has already recorded progress, with several communities benefiting from improved water supply projects, while schools have also received water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, although more work remains to be done.
He identified infrastructure financing as one of the major implementation challenges but commended the Kaduna State Government for increasing counterpart funding, a development he said has accelerated the execution of several urban water supply projects currently underway across the state.
The Director added that the retreat would culminate in a comprehensive action plan with defined timelines and responsibilities to ensure improved implementation and better outcomes for communities across Kaduna State.
The Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme is a World Bank-supported initiative designed to assist Nigeria in achieving universal access to sustainable and safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services.