From Sule Aliyu, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and with funding support from the United Kingdom Government, has launched the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS) project aimed at strengthening healthcare and education infrastructure across the state.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Bauchi, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed said the initiative aligns with his administration’s “My Bauchi Project” development agenda, which focuses on improving healthcare and education services while addressing the impacts of climate change.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Auwal Muhammad Jatau, explained that the project would upgrade 15 primary healthcare centres and nine primary schools across five local government areas of the state.
He noted that the intervention would provide safer and more conducive environments for learning and healthcare delivery, particularly for women and children affected by climate-related challenges.
Governor Mohammed also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the Abuja Declaration by pledging to allocate at least 15 percent of the state budget to the healthcare sector, while sustaining support for education and counterpart funding obligations tied to development projects.
According to him, partnerships with UNICEF and other development organisations have attracted over N1.8 billion in counterpart funding and commitments within the last year to strengthen the state’s primary healthcare system.
In her remarks, UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, described the CRIBS project as a critical intervention designed to ensure that schools and healthcare facilities are equipped with water, sanitation, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
She stressed that access to clean water, sanitation, and safe healthcare facilities remains essential for the protection and development of children and mothers, especially in the face of climate change.
Rafique also called on traditional rulers, journalists, and community leaders to support efforts aimed at protecting children and improving social services across communities.
Earlier, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Sani Muhammad Dambam, said the project would enhance maternal and child healthcare services in line with global best practices and the strategic objectives of the state government.
He commended UNICEF and other development partners for their continued support toward repositioning the healthcare sector in Bauchi State.
The event also featured the signing of contract agreements by contractors, followed by the formal handover of project sites for the commencement of work.
