The Chairman of Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, Dr Fred Okem, has assured residents that the council will provide budgetary support for water, sanitation and hygiene programmes through a supplementary budget expected before June 2026.
Okem gave the assurance during a four-day advocacy visit by the Network of Water and Sanitation in Nigeria to the council headquarters in Yala.
The advocacy team, led by the Cross River State Coordinator of NEWSAN, Anthony Kedang, met with council officials, traditional rulers and staff of the WASH Department to push for improved sanitation and hygiene interventions across the local government area.
Speaking during the meeting, the council chairman recalled the devastating impact of water-borne diseases on communities such as Wanakom, Otekpa and parts of Southern Ukelle.
“Our people have suffered greatly from water-borne diseases. I know how devastating guinea worm outbreaks were in communities such as Wanakom, Otekpa and Southern Ukelle,” he said.
Okem commended NEWSAN and its partners for implementing the WASH Systems for Health Programme, noting that the initiative had significantly improved sanitation practices in the area.
According to him, open defecation was once common even among council staff, but the situation had improved considerably.
“Staff here used to go into the bush to defecate, but that is no longer the case. Following our last meeting in Calabar, I requested a supplementary budget after the main budget presentation, and between now and June, the process should be concluded,” he added.
Earlier, Kedang expressed concern over the non-release of budgeted funds for WASH activities in Yala over the years, including the 2026 fiscal period.
He said records showed zero releases to the WASH Department despite budgetary provisions, describing the development as a setback to sanitation and hygiene interventions.
“We are here to advocate for the release of the budgeted N57m allocated to the WASH Department for routine implementation and monitoring of WASH activities in Yala LGA,” Kedang said.
Also speaking, NEWSAN State Advocacy Lead, Juliet Orok, urged the council to prioritise the approval and release of funds for WASH projects.
The advocacy team further encouraged the council to intensify efforts toward reclaiming Yala’s Open Defecation Free status, which it once attained alongside several other local government areas in Nigeria.
During a separate meeting with WASH Department staff, the Head of Department, Pastor William Agbor, lamented inadequate funding and lack of operational equipment, but expressed confidence that the department would deliver improved results if properly supported.
As part of the advocacy tour, the NEWSAN delegation also visited the Paramount Ruler of Yala, His Royal Majesty Ogamode Eje Ipoule, who pledged the support of the traditional institution for WASH programmes in the area.
The monarch stressed the need for enforcement of sanitation laws and bye-laws to tackle open defecation in communities.
