WaterAid, Bwari Council Allocate N521m For WASH In 6 Primary Healthcare Centres

WaterAid, Bwari council allocate N521m for WASH in 6 primary healthcare centres. The total proposed budget for the Local Investment Plan (LIP) is N521,655,000.

WaterAid Nigeria, in collaboration with the Bwari Area Council, has earmarked more than N500 million for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in six primary healthcare centres (PHCs).

The proposal was presented at a one-day “Validation Workshop on Local Investment Plans (LIP) for Six Primary Healthcare Institutions” on Monday in Abuja.

The selected PHCs for this pilot project are Dutse-Alhaji, Owner Occupier, Sabon-Gari, Byazhin, Dei-dei, and Ushafa.
The total proposed budget for the Local Investment Plan (LIP) is N521,655,000.

This funding aims to enhance WASH services, environmental cleaning, health waste management, and monitoring and evaluation across the selected centres. The investment plan is set to cover the period from 2025 to 2030.

Nampet Chuktu, WaterAid head of programmes, highlighted the importance of collaborating with stakeholders to ensure accurate documentation and validation of the investment plans, which would also help in advocating for future budget releases.

“This is so that we are not guessing what is needed or what should be in place each year.

“Instead, we will be able to determine what should be at the centres because it has been validated and documented. With this document, we can advocate for budget release,” he said.

Mr Chuktu urged the representatives of each PHC at the workshop to help facilitate the process and ensure that the overseeing authority at the FCT Primary Health Secretariat properly situates the document.

He also noted that WaterAid, with funding support from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Charities, would finance 30 per cent of the project, while the council would finance 70 per cent.

Kabiru Abbas, a consultant, stressed the need for critical infrastructural development to improve WASH services in the PHCs.

He explained that the development of a WASH investment plan would help secure funding for the improvement of healthcare services and contribute to achieving social development goals in the area.

“The LIP is a comprehensive plan for achieving the social development goals within the area council.

“The state of WASH services in health institutions in Bwari Area Council has been precarious and requires significant investment in infrastructure,” he said.

WaterAid

He explained that the LIP was the result of a participatory process involving the assessment of gaps, setting priorities and timelines, and identifying the resources needed to achieve the set objectives.

“It is also evidence-based, life-cycle costed, and developed through a participatory approach involving a mix of stakeholders,” he added.

The head of administration of the Bwari Area Council, Isa Musa, assured swift action in adopting the document on behalf of the council chairman.

“WaterAid Nigeria has already supported a 12-month project focused on enhancing WASH facilities in Bwari’s PHCs, including constructing and rehabilitating water and sanitation facilities.

“This project is part of WaterAid’s broader sustainability strategy to maintain the WASH improvements in the council over the next six years,” he said.

The event was attended by officials from various council departments, PHC managers, traditional leaders, and other WASH collaborators.

Cross River Lawmakers Invites Commissioner Over Alleged Illegal Levies

Cross River lawmakers invites commissioner over alleged illegal levies. The House described the imposition of illegal levies by the ministry as double taxation.

The Cross River House of Assembly has invited the state commissioner for environment over alleged illegal levies imposed on truck drivers.

The House took the decision following a complaint made during the house session on Monday by Okon Owuna, the member representing Akamkpa I in the assembly.

Mr Owuna said that the levy tagged “Cross River Evacuation Permit” was imposed by the Ministry of Environment on trucks hauling granite from quarries in Akamkpa.

The lawmaker said that the levy was illegal, and not approved by the Cross River Internal Revenue Service.
“This levy is not also backed by the state Revenue Administration Law passed by the State Assembly,” he said.

He further said that the collection of the illegal levies had caused serious hardship on truck drivers as well as business owners in the area.

“This has led to the withdrawal of their trucks to quarries in neighbouring states; this trend should be stopped to preserve the good image of the state.

“If this trend is not checked, it is capable of destroying the hard-earned reputation and good image that Governor Bassey Otu has built for the state,” he said.

Other lawmakers who spoke on the matter described the imposition of illegal levies by the ministry as double taxation.

Cross River Lawmakers

The speaker, Elvert Ayambem, condemned the act and said that the commissioner of environmental and chairman of the Internal Revenue Service should appear before the house.

Mr Ayambem said the invitation of the two government officials would enable the House to adequately understand the issue and proffer lasting solutions.

EFCC Arraigned Woman In Borno Over Alleged N6.8m Romance Scam

EFCC arraigned woman in Borno over alleged N6.8m romance scam. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, over allegations of a N6.8 million fraud.

Ugwu was charged on Monday, March 17, 2025, in connection with a romance scam in which she allegedly deceived a victim, Emmanuel Ani, by posing as his fiancée, “Miss Chinansa.”

The EFCC filed a four-count charge against her, including obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation, and impersonation.

According to the anti-graft agency, between June 2023 and August 2024, Ugwu fraudulently obtained N6,710,300 from Ani under the guise of supporting his supposed fiancée.

Upon hearing the charges, Ugwu pleaded not guilty.

Court Remands Ugwu, Trial Set for April 8

EFCC Arraigned Woman

Following her plea, prosecution counsel S.O. Saka and Faruku Muhammad urged the court to set a trial date and remand the defendant in a correctional facility. Justice Kumaliya granted the request, adjourning the trial until April 8, 2025.

The EFCC disclosed that Ugwu failed to return or account for the money when confronted by the petitioner.

The commission reiterated its commitment to tackling financial crimes, particularly scams involving deception and impersonation.