Ogun State Government has kicked off the ‘One House, One Toilet’ campaign which is part of efforts to eradicate open defecation in the state at large, with the launch starting from Ijebu-North Local Government Area.
Penpushing reports that Commissioner for Rural Development, Mrs. Olufemi Ilori-Oduntan, explained that the campaign seeks to promote the use of toilets and good hygiene practices in every community across the State.
The Commissioner added that the campaign kicked-off through the Ogun State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RUWATSAN) Agency, in partnership with United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF), themed: Implementation of NTD-WASH Based Community-led To Sanitation (CLTS).
Penpushing further reports that Ilori-Oduntan at Ijebu-North local government areas, where the exercise started from would cover 167 Communities within Mamu, Omen, Ojowo-Japara and Osun wards.
‘The federal government’s mandate to eradicate open defecation is embedded and signed under an Executive Order 009 in considering its prevalence and havoc, the Ogun state government immediately keyed into the order and had since being providing needed support to the anchor Agency, Ogun RUWATSAN for her to drive the community Led Total Sanitation approach’, she stated.
“As one of the major strategies for scaling up sanitation; the result of which Ikenne local government area being declared into Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in December, 2023, and the journey towards making Ijebu-North the second LGA with ODF status starts today because we are sure that the remaining 7 wards will also be considered soon’, she added.
Penpushing also reports that Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Mr. Seyi Sokoya earlier in his speech said sensitisation was a driving tool in achieving an Open Defecation Free Ogun.
The Permanent Secretary explained that the campaign must be people-centered and community-based with community engagement, especially in the vulnerable and underserved communities, and equally sought for the support of local governments to cascade the policy to the people who were the direct beneficiaries.
“It is my hope, in view of the importance of this campaign to our national development process and meeting the goal of eradicating open defecation Nigeria, that, this campaign and other initiatives of this present administration will contribute to the success of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector’, he said.
Penpushing reports that the Project Manager, Mr. Sola Ogunbo in his remarks said, the practice of open defecation was a menace that had plagued the communities for too long, noting that it posed significant risks to the health, environment and economic development of any community.
“Indeed, it is unacceptable that in this day and age, many of our citizens are still forced to defecate in the open, exposing themselves and their loved ones to the dangers of water-borne diseases, malnutrition, and dignity-denying conditions and the future of the children’, he said.
Penpushing reports that the United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) representative, Mr. Monday Johnson said, it was imperative to eradicate open defecation through collective sensitisation of the stakeholders in the State.
The Chairman, Ijebu-North Local Government, Mr. Bolaji Odusanya, in response lamented that it was discovered that truck drivers, motor boys and street traders were the main offenders of this nefarious act
Penpushing further reports that the council boss represented by his Secretary, Sojinrin Adeniyi, , urged stakeholders to implement decisions taken at the meeting to ensure open defecation was totally eradicated in the Council and in the State at large.
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