The Oyo State Government has set year 2028 as the deadline to end all forms of open defecation in the state and is ready to launch the “Open Defecation Free (ODF) Roadmap” to actualise the plan.
The state also declared that it has concluded arrangements with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide a N40million loan facility to small households and residents who cannot afford to complete or build toilets and conveniences in their homes and premises.
The facility which a counterpart fund from the parties, according to the government, would go a long way in ensuring that the 2028 deadline is actualised for all the 33 Local Government Council areas in the state to become free from open defecation.
The Chairman, Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Nojeem Omirinde, who spoke on behalf of the government, during a media dialogue in Ibadan, said the roadmap is to serve as a template and guide to help the people understand the negative implications of open defecation and why it must be put to an end in the state.
He noted that apart from hygiene and health issues, environmental and sanitation hazards associated with the practice of open defecation come with too many consequences on the people.
Omirinde stated: “As regards open defecation, I am advising individuals to build toilets in their own house. Having a toilet in your own house is for your convenience, safety and that of the generality, so as not to contaminate our underground water. Prevention is better than cure; that is why we are having the Open Defecation Road Map for Oyo State.”
The RUWASSA Chairman emphasised the importance of having and using toilets, disclosing that only 188 out of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria are open defecation free and Oyo state doesn’t have one.
“So, my target is to have some local government areas in the state also declared free, even if not all the 33 local government areas. Although, by 2028, all the 33 local government areas must be open defecation free,” Omirinde asserted.
Also speaking, the Chief of WASH, UNICEF, Nigeria, Jane Bevan, disclosed that Oyo State is not doing well on the ODF list and all efforts must be made by relevant stakeholders to ensure a change in the situation, noting that the purpose of the plan to be launched is to improve the health situation, especially that of the children who suffer more when there is outbreak of diseases.
Bevan said: “This is the main reason UNICEF is partnering and supporting Oyo State government to be open defecation free to improve sanitation and save lives of more children.
“We need the media to also understand the background, issues and matters around WASH and open defecation. All of us need to work hard to support the government and other stakeholders to achieve this. This is part of the larger programme of the Clean Nigeria Campaign and we are committed,” she stated.
Remarks
The State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Oyesola Oyedele, disclosed that what the government wants from the people is cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure that the practice of open defecation is put to an end because good health and hygiene is key and one of the challenges is open defecation.
Olusola Akintonde
