The Chairman of Yala Local Government Area, Dr. Fred Okem, has pledged budgetary support for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes through a supplementary budget expected to be concluded before June 2026.
Dr. Okem gave the assurance during a four-day advocacy visit by the Network of Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) to the council headquarters in Yala, led by the Cross River State Coordinator, Mr. Anthony Kedang. The team engaged council officials, traditional institution members, and WASH Department staff on the need to strengthen sanitation and hygiene interventions across the area.
The Council Chairman acknowledged the devastating impact of water-borne diseases on several communities in Yala, including Wanakom, Otekpa, and parts of Southern Ukelle, commending NEWSAN and its partners for implementing the WASH Systems for Health Programme (WS4H), which he said has brought visible improvements in sanitation practices.
"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 said.
Earlier, NEWSAN State Coordinator Mr. Kedang expressed concern over the non-release of budgeted WASH funds in Yala over the years, including the 2026 fiscal period. He said available records showed zero releases to the WASH Department despite existing provisions — a development he described as a major setback to sanitation interventions.
"We are here to advocate for the release of the budgeted ₦57 million allocated to the WASH Department for routine implementation and monitoring of WASH activities in Yala LGA. We want to understand why there have been no releases and how the challenge can be addressed," Kedang stated.
NEWSAN State Advocacy Lead, Mrs. Juliet Orok, also urged the council to prioritise the approval and release of funds for WASH projects.
"We are here, like Oliver Twist, to ask for more. What is hindering the release of funds for Yala WASH projects? These interventions are critical to improving the livelihoods of the people and should not be taken for granted," she said.
The advocacy team further encouraged the council to intensify efforts toward reclaiming Yala's Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, which it once attained alongside over 50 other local government areas across Nigeria.
During a separate meeting with WASH Department staff, officials lamented inadequate funding, lack of operational equipment, and limited support for monitoring and project implementation. Head of the Department, Pastor William Agbor, expressed confidence in the team's ability to deliver improved results if adequately supported, while staff members Mr. Ariku Francis Ebinyi and Mrs. Beshel Scholastica called for the urgent release of funds, noting that existing allocations do not cover critical needs such as motorcycles for field monitoring, laptops for data management, and logistics for project implementation.
As part of the tour, the NEWSAN delegation also visited the Paramount Ruler of Yala, His Royal Majesty Ogamode Eje Ipoule, who pledged the traditional institution's support for WASH programmes while identifying sustainability and implementation as major challenges confronting community development projects.
"Projects like these should be backed by laws and enforced by security agencies; otherwise, they may not survive," the monarch said, emphasising the need for bye-laws to tackle open defecation and prosecute sanitation violators.
Mr. Mark Odey Obaji, a member of the Local Task Group on WASH (LTG-WASH), commended NEWSAN and Self Help Africa (SHA) for repairing and upgrading over 40 boreholes across Yala, describing the release of funds to the WASH Department as essential for effective service delivery.
The week-long advocacy tour, which commenced on Monday, concluded on Friday, April 24, 2026, with renewed optimism about the future of WASH interventions in Yala Local Government Area.
Nakanda Iyadim
