During the update session, the Programme Manager of RUWATSSA presented progress reports, followed by inputs from development partners.
By TheInvestigator
In a renewed push to strengthen coordination and accountability in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector, the Cross River State Government, through the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWATSSA), on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, convened the State WASH Sector Partners Coordination Meeting at the State Water Board Conference Room in Calabar.
The meeting brought together officials from different organisations working in the WASH sector to review progress, address gaps, and align on a unified data and reporting framework for WASH implementation in the state.
Declaring the meeting open, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Barrister Mensah Bassey, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Okon Ita, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving service delivery through better synergy among implementing agencies and partners.
“The Ministry is determined to close existing communication gaps and ensure that all WASH interventions in Cross River are properly tracked, coordinated, and aligned with our state’s development priorities,” the Commissioner stated.
Stressing the importance of the coordination meeting, he said, “This meeting is important, meant for us to brainstorm. Though it is coming late, it’s better than never.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the General Manager of RUWATSSA, Hon Sunday Oko, commended partners for their consistency and collaboration, noting that the coordination platform has remained vital to information sharing and policy alignment in the state’s WASH sector.
According to him, “Thank you for coming. This meeting is for us to review field outcomes. If we don’t do this, we won’t know what any partner is doing, and that may lead to duplication of projects and programmes.”
Key matters that arose included the establishment of WASH desk officers to strengthen information flow, and the creation of a centralised data system and harmonised reporting template to enhance sector monitoring and accountability.
During the update session, the Programme Manager of RUWATSSA presented progress reports, followed by inputs from development partners. The discussions centred on data gaps, sustainability of interventions, and strategies for improving community engagement in sanitation and hygiene promotion.
Stakeholders also agreed on action points and practical steps toward bridging institutional gaps and reinforcing state-level ownership of WASH initiatives.
