Imo Moves to Establish WASH Departments in 27 LGAs to Protect Water Infrastructure

The Imo State Government has begun moves to establish dedicated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) departments across the state’s 27 Local Government Areas to improve grassroots water and sanitation services and protect existing infrastructure.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Obinna Ogwuegbu, disclosed this in Owerri during a two-day stakeholders’ workshop organised to verify and validate the proposed Scheme of Service for WASH officers. He said the initiative was intended to create a clear institutional structure for managing water and sanitation services at the local government level.

Ogwuegbu said the reform was necessary to sustain government investments, including the rehabilitation of Otamiri Water Works and rural solar-powered water projects. He argued that infrastructure alone could not guarantee reliable services without trained personnel and accountable institutions to operate and maintain the facilities.

The commissioner said WASH responsibilities had previously been spread across different units without a clear professional career structure. He added that local governments, because of their proximity to communities, needed the technical capacity to plan, operate and monitor water and sanitation facilities effectively.

“This exercise is not simply about creating another department; it is about putting in place the institutional foundation required to sustain investments in the WASH sector,” Ogwuegbu said. He urged stakeholders to develop a framework that was financially sustainable and addressed staffing, career progression and operational requirements.

The Commissioner for Health, Chioma Egu, said access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene was critical to healthcare delivery and disease prevention. She said stronger WASH structures at the local government level could help reduce preventable illnesses, including cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid and neglected tropical diseases, particularly in rural communities.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources, Obilor Izuwa, said the use of ad hoc committees and informal units had previously affected the delivery of WASH services. He cited Katsina, Ogun, Cross River and Enugu as states that had upgraded their WASH units into full departments following reforms in the sector.

Izuwa said the proposed standalone departments would strengthen grassroots service delivery and bring Imo’s local administration closer to national best practices. The Local Government Service Commission Chairman, Ebere Obinatu, and the Chairman of the Imo State House of Assembly WASH Committee, Princewill Amuchie, also pledged support for the reform. The validated recommendations are expected to be submitted to Governor Hope Uzodimma for final approval.