Imo Plans Dedicated Water, Sanitation Departments Across 27 LGAs

The Imo State Government has begun plans to establish dedicated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene departments across all 27 local government areas of the state.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Obinna Ogwuegbu, disclosed this in Owerri during a two-day stakeholders’ workshop to validate a proposed Scheme of Service for WASH officers.

The government said the initiative is aimed at creating a stronger institutional structure for managing and protecting investments in the state’s water sector, including the rehabilitation of Otamiri Water Works and rural solar-powered water projects.

Ogwuegbu said infrastructure alone would not guarantee sustainable water services without qualified personnel and accountable institutions to manage them.

He explained that WASH responsibilities had previously been spread across different units without a clearly defined professional structure for delivering services at the grassroots.

The proposed departments are expected to provide a dedicated structure for managing water and sanitation responsibilities within each local government area and improve accountability for service delivery.

The Commissioner for Health, Chioma Egu, said stronger WASH systems at the local government level could also help reduce diseases associated with unsafe water and poor sanitation, including cholera, diarrhoea and typhoid.

The state’s Permanent Secretary for Water Resources said the creation of standalone WASH departments would bring local administration in Imo closer to national best practices.

The recommendations from the stakeholders’ validation exercise are expected to be submitted to Governor Hope Uzodimma for final consideration and approval.

If approved, the proposal will introduce a dedicated WASH administrative structure across all 27 local government areas, with the next challenge being its implementation and effective staffing.