Fifty small business owners in Cross River State are set to receive loan support for sanitation facilities after Ekondo Microfinance Bank and ToiletPride formalized a N35 million financing agreement in Calabar.
Speaking at the signing and cheque presentation ceremony of the facilities which are supported by the State Government and partner, Shelp Help Africa( SHA) the ToiletPride Executive Director, Mr Chukwuma Nnanna made the case that sanitation is serious business. "Our assessments indicate that the sanitation economy in Cross River State is worth over N150 billion," he said. "That represents tremendous potential for small businesses to improve livelihoods."
He added that the partnership marks a decisive push toward Market-Based Sanitation, treating toilets not as charity, but as commerce.
He disclosed that each of the 50 Toilet Business Owners (TBOs) selected for the pilot will access loans between ₦300,000 and ₦500,000. The initial rollout targets three local government areas with the most pressing needs: Yala, Obubra, and Odukpani.
Offering insights on the modus for selection, he explained that to qualify, operators must already be part of the established TBO network and have completed enterprise training through ToiletPride and partners like Self Help Africa under the WASH Systems for Health Programme.
Also speaking, Ekondo Microfinance Bank's Managing Director, Mr. Charles Abiola Efedoama, framed the bank's involvement as both a business decision and a public health one. "Stable health conditions always follow good sanitation practices," he said, expressing the Bank's interest in extending the programme's reach across both urban and rural communities in the State.
On his part, the State Coordinator, Self Help Africa(SHA), Mr Ferdinand Anok, described the deal as a sign that the broader WASH Systems for Health investment is paying off.
"The fact that we're seeing banks step in shows that these investments are yielding positively," he noted.
Commissioner for Water Resources Barr. Bassey Mensah welcomed the initiative but flagged a troubling trend of illegal borehole drilling, revealing that operators skipping required soil analysis and water quality tests, sometimes drilling at night to avoid fees. "This is sabotaging the Government's effort to protect the lives of the citizenry and we need the support of every stakeholders to succeed," he said.
RUWATSSA General Manager, Hon. Sunday Oko echoed, urged loan beneficiaries not to treat the funds as a handout. "Ensure the funds are used properly to expand access and sustain the gains," he said.
Earlier, the STG-WASH Chairman and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Okon Ita noted that 41% of Cross River's population still practices open defecation, a statistic he described as a major public health concern. With the State's ODF roadmap in place, he said private partnerships are no longer optional. They're essential.
By Nakanda Iyadim
