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The Federal Government has presented a certificate award of Open Defecation-Free to the Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, for its efforts at combating open defecation.
The Wife of the Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, received the award on behalf of the local government from the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, at Eco-Centre, Ikenne.
In a statement on Wednesday, the governor’s wife promised that the status would be sustained.
Mrs Abiodun, who doubles as the Lead Sanitation in the state, said “Behavioural change is no doubt needed to curb the old and unhygienic practice of open defecation.
“We all know that maintaining proper hygiene practices would impact the health and overall well-being of the citizens and so the government of Governor Dapo Abiodun is working assiduously to ensure a safer and cleaner environment that will enhance wellness and living conditions of the people.”
Pledging continued support for more local governments in the state to achieve the status by the year 2025, Mrs Abiodun congratulated the local government and admonished residents to inculcate the habit of using proper toilet facilities and ensure regular handwashing and refuse disposal, to create a conducive environment for all and sundry.
Speaking at the event, Prof Utsev, represented by the Director of Water Hygiene and Sanitation, Mr Olu-Daniel Ibiyemi, said the achievement recorded by the local government was not just a title but an indication of progress in achieving the national target,
He also said the award was a testament that the road map to a safer environment was achievable.
The minister noted that good hygiene practices helped in curbing water-borne and other communicable diseases, which could retard national development.
He appreciated the state government and developing partners for their efforts in achieving the remarkable feat while charging public and private organisations to make toilet facilities available in their domains, to eradicate the challenge of open defecation in the country.
The Commissioner for Rural Development, Mrs Olufemi Ilori-Oduntan, lauded the governor’s intervention for supporting the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency to construct toilet facilities and provide Water, Sanitation and Hygiene facilities to over 171 communities and households in the Ikenne LG.
She said the present administration’s efforts towards achieving state-wide Open Defecation Free status by 2025 were yielding results, as toilet facilities were being made available in public places across the state, with the provision of potable water for proper hygienic practices.
The Programme Manager, RUWATSAN, Mr Sola Ogunbo, said the state had been working endlessly to ensure residents desist from defecating openly through various programmes and activities.
Ogunbo said the agency would ensure that every household complied with “a house to a toilet” campaign in the remaining 19 local government areas in the state.
Other dignitaries at the event were the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, traditional rulers, representatives of development partners and Community Development Association members.
