Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Barrister Bassey Mensah, underscored the urgency of building resilient systems that can sustain progress in the WASH sector beyond political cycles.
By TheInvestigator
Key stakeholders in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector in Cross River State have taken decisive steps to strengthen the sustainability of WASH coordination and service delivery with the development of a comprehensive sustainability plan for the State Task Group on WASH (STG-WASH).
The plan emerged from a two-day technical workshop convened by the Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), in collaboration with Self Help Africa (SHA), and in partnership with the Cross River State Ministry of Water Resources. The workshop focused on reinforcing institutional capacity, improving sector coordination, and safeguarding the long-term functionality of the STG-WASH platform as a critical mechanism for delivering sustainable WASH services across the state.
Bringing together government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, and sector experts, participants worked collectively to design a strategic framework aimed at strengthening governance structures, enhancing resource mobilisation, and ensuring continuity of water and sanitation interventions, particularly in underserved and vulnerable communities.
Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Barrister Bassey Mensah, underscored the urgency of building resilient systems that can sustain progress in the WASH sector beyond political cycles.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Okon Ita, the Commissioner commended the administration of the State Governor for creating an enabling environment that has attracted development partners and strengthened collaboration within the sector.
He stressed that the sustainability plan is intended to institutionalise coordination mechanisms and provide a clear roadmap for maintaining service delivery standards over the long term.
“We are not just planning for the present. Our goal is to deliver a sustainability framework that will outlive the current administration and continue to serve the people of Cross River State for generations,” he stated.
The lead resource person, Mr Williams Ngwakwe of the Society for Water and Sanitation in Nigeria (NEWSAN), described the initiative as a strategic milestone in consolidating the state’s progress in WASH governance.
He noted that developing a sustainability plan for the STG-WASH is essential to preserving institutional memory, strengthening accountability systems, and ensuring consistent delivery of water and sanitation services in the face of evolving funding and operational challenges.
Mr Ngwakwe further urged stakeholders to leverage the ongoing policy review process to drive reforms that will reposition the sector for greater efficiency and long-term impact.
“This is an opportunity to transform the WASH landscape and establish a model of coordination and sustainability that other states can emulate,” he said.