Evaluating WASH Interventions’ impact in Bwari council
A News Analysis by Veronica Dariya, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
For many residents of Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), access to clean water and decent sanitation has long been a daily struggle.
Across several rural and peri-urban communities, women and children traditionally trekked long distances to fetch water from unsafe sources.
Consequently, poor sanitation and hygiene practices often led to frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
However, this narrative is gradually changing as targeted Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions begin to take root.
Water is life, yet for years communities such as Sabon-Gari, Baran-Goni, Tudun-Fulani, Dakwa, Zuma and other settlements in Bwari Area Council endured unreliable access to potable water.
Shallow wells and water vendors, locally known as mai ruwa, often served as primary sources, exposing residents to cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea.
In response to these challenges, coordinated WASH activities implemented by government agencies, development partners and non-governmental organisations have sought to address the gaps head-on.
One notable effort is the collaboration involving WaterAid Nigeria, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) and Bwari Area Council, among others.
The partnership birthed a 14-month project beginning in 2024, organised by WaterAid and funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
The initiative aimed to strengthen WASH service delivery in selected communities across the council.
As part of the intervention, boreholes were drilled, broken water facilities rehabilitated, and hand pumps installed, greatly improving access to safe water in beneficiary communities.
As a result, many households now enjoy access to clean water within close proximity, improving daily life and overall wellbeing.
Mr Williams Kolo, WASH Coordinator of the council, said that over 10,000 residents in the target communities have benefited from improved access to clean water through the project.
Providing an overview of the project’s outcomes, Kolo said residents of Baran-Goni, Zuma II, Sabon-Gari, Dakwa and LEA Primary School, Tudun-Fulani, now have reliable access to potable water.
He added that beneficiaries were also equipped with WASH management skills and sanitation promotion messages.
“As of 2024, about 10,000 people gained access to clean water, while 647 people gained access to safely managed sanitation facilities.
“In addition, 3,500 people, including women and children, were reached with sanitation promotion messages,” he said.
According to him, the project involved the construction and rehabilitation of solar- and electric-powered boreholes with 10,000-litre and 20,000-litre capacities in four communities and one school, alongside water kiosks.
“Furthermore, 115 members; 67 males and 48 females of WASH management structures and hygiene promoters were trained across the four beneficiary communities.
“It is also noteworthy that water points in the five facilities across the four communities and school were certified to have zero coliform levels,” Kolo added.
Looking ahead, Kolo said partners had mapped out an investment plan to sustain and replicate the intervention across other communities.
He explained that this would ensure wider access to clean water, while the council’s WASH unit would work to secure funding for similar projects in subsequent budgets.
Beyond infrastructure, the intervention has delivered tangible social benefits, especially for women and girls, who traditionally bear the burden of water collection.
Mrs Mairo Dara, a resident of Sabon-Gari, said girls who once missed school due to long water-fetching journeys now attend classes early and regularly because of the proximity of boreholes.
She noted that community members are healthier and more productive, while households can now redirect funds previously spent on treating preventable diseases towards food and other necessities.
According to Dara, functional water points also enhance the image of communities, encouraging settlement growth and, in some cases, attracting small businesses.
“One of my expectations from the WASH intervention is improved public health, with a visible decline in water-related illnesses, especially among children under five.
“With access to safe drinking water and better sanitation facilities, families will be less exposed to harmful pathogens,” she said.
Equally significant is the improvement in sanitation facilities, especially in schools.
Mallam Shehu Usman, from the office of the Sarkin Bwari, said access to improved sanitation facilities in beneficiary schools has enhanced hygiene practices among pupils.
He noted that the gender-sensitive toilet and sanitation facility provided at LEA Primary School, Tudun-Fulani, has promoted dignity, privacy and confidence among female pupils.
Speaking further, Usman said community-led sanitation programmes have played, and will continue to play a critical role in promoting hygiene.
“Through sensitisation on proper waste disposal, handwashing with soap and the construction of household latrines, residents are increasingly adopting healthier hygiene practices.
“These simple changes have proven effective in preventing disease and reducing pressure on local health centres,” he said.
However, he stressed the need for continuous training of Water User Committees and local sanitation champions to maintain facilities, promote hygiene awareness and ensure sustainability.
According to him, this approach not only extends the lifespan of WASH facilities but also empowers communities to take ownership of their environment.
He therefore called for greater involvement of traditional leaders, youth groups and women’s associations to improve acceptance, cultural relevance and long-term behaviour change.
In spite of the progress recorded, challenges persist.
Population growth, inadequate maintenance funding and occasional vandalism threaten the sustainability of some WASH facilities.
In addition, climate variability and water scarcity underscore the need for resilient and well-managed systems.
Experts emphasise that sustained investment, regular monitoring, and strong collaboration among government, civil society, and communities are essential to consolidating gains and expanding WASH coverage across Bwari Council.
WASH interventions go beyond boreholes and taps, improving health, education, gender equality, and dignity, while clean water and hygiene awareness help communities become healthier and more resilient.
Experts further stress that community-driven approaches; including behaviour change communication, Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), improved sanitation facilities, strengthened hygiene practices, local monitoring, and strong partnerships are critical to sustaining WASH progress.
They note that when communities lead the process, supported by government and development partners, cleaner and healthier environments become achievable and sustainable, restoring hope, dignity, and protecting lives in the pursuit of sustainable development. (NANFeatures)
