Dutse, June 18, 2026 – United enNations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has launched the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS II) project in Jigawa state, targeting 14 primary healthcare facilities and 10 schools.
Speaking at the CRIBS II inception meeting on Thursday, in Dutse, the Water, Sanitation and Hyigiene Specialist, UNICEF Kano Field Office, Dr Uba Lawal, gave a summary of the first phase of the project.
According to him, the state-level inception meeting was organised to gain more government involvement in the project and review the defects of the previous phase of the project CRIBS l.
The project he said, has been designed to make the schools and healthcare facilities resielint to the growing impacts of climate change.
He noted that the project is funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by the UNICEF.
Lawal highlighted that the second phase od the project would cover five local government areas of Gwaram, Auyo, Jahun, Maigatari.
Lawal further disclosed that the inception meeting was to creat an environment for the project contractors, government officials and other stakeholders to meet, in order to ensure quality projects are delivered.
He warned contractors and supervisors to desist from compromising any portion of the contract agreement they signed, warning them to resist any pressure from communities for compromise.
In his welcome remarks, Shafeeq Ur Rehman, Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, expressed delight over the project and the commitment of all stakeholders.
The inception meeting according to Rehman, showcased the level of transparency the project has and the support it provides for all stakeholders.
As new to Nigeria he said, he was amazed with the level of Jigawa state government’s commitment to other projects they partnered with UNICEF and other development partners.
“Jigawa’s commitment has accorded it a position of being a lead in many interventions which attract other states coming to replicate the successes,” he said.
Also, Dr Saudat Basheer, Health Specialist UNICEF Kano Field Office, warned the contract against employing children for labour on site.
She said that they had a record of under aged children being utilised as labourers, as requested by the communities, thus increasing the number of out of school children in the communities.
In his remarks, the Director Jigawa state Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr Shehu Sambo, commended UNICEF and UK government for the laudable interventions.
He explained that the Namadi administration in the state had revitalised about 204 facilities, with about 77 under way.
Dr Sambo appealed to the contractors to establish a cordial relationship with the benefitting communities to ensure a healthy working atmosphere.
The state he said, will replicate CRIBS projects at later stage, in order to compliment the funding agencies and ensure full implementation of the universal health coverage at all stages.
Meanwhile, the Director appealed to the project to including fencing the facilities to improve their security and provide an environment for full 24 hour operation at the intervention facilities.
In their separate remarks, stakeholders at the meeting that included the State Universal Basic Education Board, Ministry for Basic education and Chairmen of Gwaram, Maigatari and Taura, pledged total support for the project.
The timeline for the second phase of CRIBS ll, is slates to be November 2026 and all contractors would officially hand over the projects.
