Oyo State Government on Thursday inaugurated a 20-member State Task Group on Sanitation (STGS) toward eradicating open defecation across the state.
Speaking during the inauguration of the task force in Ibadan, the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, said that the group would address sanitation gaps and end open defecation in the state by 2028.
Lawal, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, expressed the state government’s commitment to eradicating open defecation, hence the inauguration of the committee.
He said that the group, chaired by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, would coordinate and drive the implementation of National Open Defecation Free (ODF) programme.
“The group will sensitise communities and equally institutionalise hygiene practices across schools, market places, healthcare facilities and households in the state,” he said.
Lawal urged the group to step up the efficacy of awareness at public facilities on the need to own basic sanitation facilities.
While stating that many institutions in the state still lacked basic sanitation facilities, the deputy governor urged the group to carry out the assignment with a high sense of responsibility.
In his remarks, Chairman of the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, (OYORUWASSA), Babalola Afobaje, said that the inauguration of the group would help to improve the sanitation and hygiene activities in the state.
Afobaje said that OYORUWASSA would partner relevant organisations toward eradicating open defecation across the state.
NAN
