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Communities in Kogi State have been urged to take ownership of government projects in their various communities.
The call was made on Monday in Lokoja during a one day town hall meeting organized by the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) for stakeholders in 30 selected communities in the state.
Speakers at the meeting said that the establishment of the committees will ensure proper maintenance of the projects and safeguard them from activities of vandals.
They pleaded with the state government to reticulate to the multi-billion Naira greater water Lokoja project to Felele, Kabawa hillside and other areas of the city to make water available to more people.
The meeting observed that the dump site at Felele has become a threat to public health and called for its immediate relocation stop prevent outbreak of epidemic diseases.
On the issue of public toilet, the stakeholders commended the state government for embarking on the construction of toilets in Lokoja but observed that the location was unsuitable.
It called on government to always carry along the leaderships of the various communities in the state in the conception and implementation of projects in rural areas to encourage communities to take ownership of the projects.
The meeting lauded the state government for introducing the monthly sanitation exercise and called for more participation by residents and groups for the exercise to achieve its objective.
According to them, government should also provide more equipment like refuse vans , wheel barrows and other simple equipment to ease evacuation of refuse in different parts of the state.
Earlier while devaluation the meeting, Chief Abraham Abu, the Kpetu of Adankolo called on the pole to show more interest in the development of their communities.
He charged them to put the collective interest of their communities above personal interest, saying that the idea of running after politicians for personal gains should be stopped.
Also speaking, the Programme Manager of the Lokoja diocese of Lokoja, Mr Simon Enejor said that the meeting was part of efforts to increase citizens participation for improved water supply, sanitation and hygiene in 30 selected communities across the state.
He said that the idea was to create awareness and advocate for behavioral change in sanitary and hygiene practices in the state.
Enejor listed the 30 communities where the JDPC is implementing the project as Egge, Kuroko, Idoji, Obangede, Banda, Felele, Kabawa, Adankolo, Sarkin Noma, Idah, Ayangba, Agaliga, Ankpa and Ejule.
(NAN)
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