Oyo Sets Unrealistic Task To End Open Defecation In 2yrs

The state government made this known on Saturday in a statement.

According to the state’s commissioner of Information, Dotun Oyelade who signed the statement, the state government is collaborating with the United Nations Children’s Funds to tackle open defecation before 2025 through training

The commissioner said the training was initiated under the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene program of UNICEF through the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency.

According to Ojelade, the training that commenced with traditional rulers in the Ibarapa East Local Government Area of the state would be extended to other local government areas.

While quoting the RUWASSA chairman, Adeduntan Adeniyi, Ojelade noted that the workshop would also help the state to achieve the Open Defecation Free status by 2025 and further curb water and sanitation diseases in the state.

Oyelade said: “The workshop was aimed at the state to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and improved sanitation by 2025, under the WASH project supported by UNICEF.

“It would also assist in reducing water and sanitation-related diseases, particularly in rural areas of the state.”

Meanwhile, those familiar with the state said this is a herculean task set by the administration of Seyi Makinde, considering the current realities in the Pacesetters state as the state is widely known.

“How can a state engender this within just two years when many houses have no toilets. And how many public toilets has the government built for the people to stop them from defecating openly?”, a public analyst in the state who does not want to be mentioned told the magazine on Saturday.