Over 187,000 Residents Gain Access to Safe Water as Self Help Africa Boosts WS4H Services in Kano, Cross River

By Ladan Muhammad Garko

No fewer than 187,575 residents of Kano and Cross River states have gained access to safe and sustainable water supply through the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WS4H) Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme implemented by Self Help Africa.

The organisation announced the milestone at the WS4H Systems for Health National Results and Learning Workshop held in Abuja, where it presented the achievements of the two-year programme, which began in 2024 with funding from UK International Development.

According to Self Help Africa, the programme focused on strengthening governance, financing and institutional capacity to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WS4H) services in the two states.

As part of the intervention, the organisation rehabilitated 51 solar-powered boreholes in Makoda Local Government Area of Kano State and carried out similar water supply projects in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, restoring access to potable water for thousands of households.

The programme also supported the construction of 12,642 improved household toilets in Makoda and 5,720 toilets in Yala, providing improved sanitation for more than 151,000 people and advancing efforts to eliminate open defecation.

To strengthen sanitation service delivery, Self Help Africa facilitated N35 million in financing for 50 toilet business owners, enabling them to expand their businesses and improve access to sanitation products and services.

Beyond infrastructure, the organisation said the initiative drove significant policy reforms. These included the passage of the Water Law and the Open Defecation Prohibition Bill in Cross River State, while both Kano and Cross River reviewed and adopted new WS4H policies, financing strategies and rural water sustainability models.

The programme also contributed to increased public investment in the WS4H sector. Kano State increased its WS4H budget by 169.07 per cent in the 2026 fiscal year, while Cross River recorded a 211 per cent increase.

In addition, Makoda Local Government raised its WS4H budget allocation by 32.9 per cent, while the Kano State Government committed more than N1 billion to pro-poor sanitation subsidies.

The programme also mobilised over $1.15 million to expand WS4H service delivery.
Speaking at the workshop, the Country Director of Self Help Africa, Joy Aderele, said the programme had shown that sustainable improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene require strong institutions, political commitment, adequate financing and strategic partnerships.

Aderele also announced that the organisation has launched two new initiatives—the Optimising the Benefits of In-line Chlorination (OPTIC) project and the Dispensers for Sustainable Rural Water in Nigeria (DiSuRWIN) project—to consolidate the gains achieved under the WS4H programme by improving rural water infrastructure, enhancing water quality and reducing the burden of waterborne diseases.