The meeting ended with a commitment to collaborate for universal access to safe water and sanitation, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 6.
By Our Reporter
On Tuesday, the Cross River State Ministry of Water Resources convened its inaugural stakeholders’ meeting to officially launch the Department of WASH Sector Regulation. This initiative aims to strengthen water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services across the state.
The meeting took place at the Cross River State Water Board Conference Hall in Calabar and gathered key stakeholders from government agencies, civil society, media, and development partners. The focus was on aligning WASH service delivery in the state with existing legal and policy frameworks as well as international best practices.
The Honourable Commissioner for Water Resources, Bassey Offiong Mensah, Esq., delivered the opening remarks, emphasising the state’s commitment to ensuring that every resident of Cross River has access to clean, safe, and potable water. He highlighted that the new regulatory department was established to monitor compliance with the Water Law and enforce standards across the WASH sector.
“The objective is to institutionalise regulation in a way that drives efficiency, transparency, and sustainability in WASH service delivery,” the Commissioner stated. “When you put the right people in the right places, you will not fail. Health is wealth; water is a necessity. We must sensitise our people.”
Pastor Johnson Eteng, a consultant to the Ministry of Water Resources, presented an overview of the sector’s mandate. He guided participants through in-depth discussions on the modalities for effective sector regulation. Key topics included monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, stakeholder coordination, and strategies for increasing access to WASH services in rural and underserved communities.
Representatives from various organisations, including the Ministry of Justice (Sylvanus Inyang), House of Assembly (Lawrence Achutu), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (Ben Osim), Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria (Prince Edem Nsa), The Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN, Tony Kedang), Ministry of Information (Nakanda Iyadim), and WASH Media Network (Archibong Jeremiah), expressed their support for the creation of the department. They committed to doing their part to ensure that the department evolves into a commission.
The meeting ended with a commitment to collaborate for universal access to safe water and sanitation, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 6.
This milestone marks a new era for WASH governance in Cross River State, as the government prioritises regulatory oversight to ensure that all residents benefit from high-quality water and sanitation services. Earlier, while welcoming stakeholders, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, Engr. Okon Ita stated that the establishment of the department was long overdue.