The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Sagnarigu, Abdulai Imoro Gong, has declared sanitation and environmental hygiene as the most pressing challenges facing the municipality.
He made the call during an address to the General Assembly, stressing that poor sanitation continues to undermine public health and development efforts.
According to Mr. Gong, nearly half of households in Sagnarigu still lack toilet facilities, contributing to a 26 percent open defecation rate.
He added that access to safe drinking water remains limited, with only 61 percent of residents covered.
“These problems are not just about lack of infrastructure. The attitude of citizens towards good sanitation practices remains a significant part of the challenge,” he said.
To address the situation, the assembly has established a sanitation task force and zonal sanitation committees to intensify public education, enforcement, and community participation.
An award scheme for the best-performing electoral areas will also be introduced, following the directive by former President John Dramani Mahama that sanitation should be a key performance indicator for all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
Mr. Gong further disclosed that the assembly is relying on the Sustainable City Project, implemented by Expertise France, to expand water supply and strengthen solid waste management systems.
He urged residents to support these interventions by constructing household latrines, avoiding littering, and registering for waste collection services.
On security, the MCE noted that the municipality has remained largely peaceful. However, he expressed concern over renewed land boundary tensions between Kogni and Janjori Kukoo, which resulted in the burning of 17 households.
The matter has since been referred to the Northern Regional Police Command for investigation.
Touching on health, Mr. Gong announced the successful completion of a mass drug administration exercise against malaria, targeting children aged between three months and five years.
The programme, which covered the entire municipality, was hailed as a significant step in improving child health.
Concluding his address, the MCE encouraged assembly members and citizens to unite in overcoming challenges while seizing new opportunities for growth and development.