By Becky Maina
Behind the walls of Gombe’s public toilets lie stories of dignity, hard work, and unrecognised service.
In the midst daily hustle of Gombe Main Market, Malam Khalid Umar, Chairman of Public Convenience Maintenance in Gombe State, stands beside a public toilet and bathroom facility a structure often overlooked, yet perpetually in demand. This modest setup is more than bricks and pipes; it is a legacy, a livelihood, and a lifeline.
“I inherited this business from my father,” Malam Khalid explains. “People mocked him at the beginning, but this place has fed us, paid school fees, and now provides jobs for others.”
On a good day, with about 100 to 300 customers, he earns between ₦4,000 and ₦7,000. He employs three young men who help operate and maintain the facility. Business peaks during harvest season when the market swells with food and farm produce, but declines thereafter.
Still, Malam Khalid’s biggest struggle is not just the inconsistency in patronage it is society’s perception of his work and the inadequate water and sanitation and hygiene WASH facilities particularly proper sewage tanks for waste evacuation.
“Some people won’t even look at us. They just fling the money like we’re not human. But we endure. We know what we do is important,” he says.
He adds with pride: “Most girls rejected me when they found out I was in the toilet business. But today, I have a supportive wife who respects what I do.
We have seven children, and through this business, I’ve been able to buy land, build a house, and construct a block of nine bathrooms and eight toilets. This work puts food on our table and sustains my family.”
For decades, Malam Khalid’s toilet business has supported his household and empowered young people through gainful employment.
He is now calling on the government and private investors to support the sector, especially in managing and desludging faecal waste
His story mirrors the broader neglect faced by sanitation workers who play a vital role in public health and environmental protection, yet are often stigmatised and marginalised.
Our reporter also spoke with Malam Musa Shehu, Chairman of the Gombe State Liquid and Solid Waste Evacuation Association. With over twenty members, the association was formed to promote environmental cleanliness by providing toilet evacuation services while also creating income-generating opportunities.
Having retired from the civil service, Malam Musa said his passion for a clean environment inspired him to venture into the business.
“We use both manual and mechanical methods to evacuate waste and transport it to the designated dumping site along Bajoga Road,” he explained.
“For manual evacuation, our members use face masks, hand gloves, and other protective gear.”
The association collaborates with the Gombe State Environmental Protection Agency (GOSEPA) to support waste evacuation efforts.
However, challenges persist
“The only sewage tank we hire frequently breaks down. There’s an urgent need for more functional sewage trucks to meet the state’s growing sanitation demands,” he said.
These pressing issues were spotlighted during a recent advocacy dialogue on Faecal Sludge Management (FSM), organised by UNICEF in collaboration with Gombe State RUWASSA.
The event, held at the Teachers’ Resource Centre in Kwami, brought together government officials, media practitioners, and development partners to discuss climate-smart FSM solutions and sustainable sanitation strategies.
The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Officer with UNICEF, Nambam Michael Dawap speaking to journalists called for the urgent development of strategic and climate-resilient Faecal Sludge Management guidelines to reduce the health risks posed by frequent flooding in vulnerable communities.
Dawap warned that poorly designed toilet facilities often collapse or become unusable during floods, thereby exposing residents to waterborne diseases.
“To effectively address climate-related challenges such as flooding, it is crucial to develop strategic and climate-resilient FSM Management
Guidelines,” she stated. “These guidelines should form the basis for policies that ensure toilet facilities are not only constructed but are durable and functional even in the face of flooding and other climate impacts.”
She further stressed the importance of a well-structured flood management policy that integrates sanitation planning.
“Proper planning ensures separation between faecal waste and floodwaters, which is essential in preventing the spread of disease and protecting public health,” Dawap added.
UNICEF, through its WASH programme, continues to support state governments across Nigeria in building climate-resilient sanitation systems, especially in rural and underserved areas. She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to working with partners to ensure no one is left behind in accessing safe sanitation.
Proffesdor Wilson Danbature of the Department of Chemical Sciences, Gombe State University, also urged stakeholders to invest in the FSM value chain.
“If properly harnessed, FSM can generate numerous jobs from desludging to treatment plant operations and resource recovery,” he said. “With the ongoing campaign against open defecation and growing dependence on on-site sanitation systems, this is the time to act. Establishing faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) can improve public health, enhance sanitation, increase state revenue, and create employment for young people.”
RUWASSA Sector Lead for WASH.Abubakar Lumumba, stated that effective FSM is essential for improved sanitation and disease prevention in the state.
He noted, however, that no community in Gombe has yet been certified as Open Defecation Free (ODF), and that a change in public behaviour is urgently needed.
For Malam Khalid and others like him, these conversations offer hope for improved working conditions, greater respect, and a future where their contributions are recognised as essential to development.
As Malam Khalid puts it: “This work may be dirty to some, but it’s clean money to us and someone has to do it.”