KWSG Step up Campaign Against Open Defecation

 Kwara State Government has assured the public of her commitments at reorienting average citizens, against open defecation, as it poses great threats to public health and safety.

The General Manager, Kwara State Rural Water Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Mr Olorunfemi Oladipo gave this assurance in Ilorin of recent, during a visit to Wara, the Headquarters of Ilorin West  Local Government, in continuation of the statewide engagements with key stakeholders, to stamp out open defecation in the state.

While addressing the people of the community, the General Manager hinted them that a combination of both Local and State monitoring teams will be constituted, with a mandate to ensure that every household in the state has at least one toilet, to discourage open defecation.

He stated further that the agency believes a lot can be achieved through Local Government authorities, which are closer to the grassroots, therefore promised to sustain the engagements with the local councils, until the agency accomplish its mission.

According to him; "the state, through RUWASA, has since kick-started the Clean Kwara Campaign, to fully achieve the Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is the Clean and Sanitation for all.

Three out of six pilot local governments viz Ilorin South, Oke-Ero, and Ilorin West – have now been engaged, while the remaining; Patigi, Ekiti, and Ifelodun will be covered soon. He affirmed.

Oladipo, again reiterated government's commitment to improving people's access to potable water and sanitation, and as well called on key stakeholders to join hands with this administration to achieve an open defecation free status.

In his remark, the Executive Chairman, Ilorin West Local Government Council, Alhaji Abdulrahman Babatunde Ladan, applauded State government’s various visionary programmes and initiatives, which he noted as being beneficial to Kwarans in so many ways.

He affirmed the Council had already keyed into the programme by accommodating it in her 2025 budget appropriation, to provide toilets in schools, markets, and public places, alongside boreholes for several communities.

Enlightening the gathering, the Head of Sanitation and Hygiene department of the agency, Mr Abdulazeez Rufai, reminded them of the popular saying that cleaningness is next to Godliness, therefore appealed to them to always be hygienic in all they do, for their safety.

He assured them that the agency is working round the clock to ensure that government's target to rid the six pilot Llocal Government of open defecation by May this year comes to fulfilment.

Balogun Alanamu, Dr. Usman Abubakar Jos and Balogun Ajikobi, Alhaji Sakariyau Ajikobi, in their separate remarks, commended the agency for its dedication, declaring people's readiness at the Local Government  to support government efforts and initiatives, toward a cleaner and healthier Kwara.

Afolabi Temple

Press Secretary 

RUWASSA

08146017560.