Ranking government official pledges to strengthen WASH structure in Cross River

Hon. Chief Victor-Felix Okon Idem, Cross River State Honourable Commissioner for Local Government Affairs has promised to assist deepen Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) structure in the state.

Idem made the comment in response to an address by Engr. Okon Ita, permanent secretary in Cross River State Ministry of Water Resources who also doubles as State WASH chairman during a courtesy visit in Calabar on Tuesday August 5, 2025 where he pleaded the local government commissioner to urge the state government and House of Assembly to unify WASH structure by amending the water bill law as passed by the State House of Assembly and signed into law by  His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Otu. This he argued is to avoid duplication of function by creating a WASH Department in every Local Government Area with budget for its functions to achieve a complete Open Defecation Free (ODF) state thereby impacting health of residents in the state.

Row call of dignitaries at the courtesy call were Hon. Oko Sunday Ebeku, General Manager (GM) RUWATSSA, Mr. Ebit Bassey, Program Manager, RUWATSSA, Madam Ikwo Eyo, Head of Department, Sanitation and Hygiene, RUWATSSA, Mr. Ebiye Dorgu, State Program officer, Self Help Africa (SHA), Mr. James Edu (SHA), Mr. Ferdinand Anon (SHA), Mr. Essien Akiba, Director of Administration, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Mrs. Ada Fidelis, Member STG-WASH, and Mr. Archibong Emmanuel of WASH media Network, Cross River State Chapter.

By: Archibong Emmanuel

(Snr. Reporter)