‎Ona-Ara Local Government Achieves Open Defecation Free Status in Major Public Health Milestone

‎Ona-Ara Local Government Achieves Open Defecation Free Status in Major Public Health Milestone
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‎Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State has been officially declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) following validation by the National Task Group on Sanitation, marking a significant milestone in the state’s drive to improve sanitation, hygiene, and public health.
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‎The confirmation, announced by the Clean Nigeria Campaign, underscores the success of sustained efforts to eliminate open defecation across communities.
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‎Speaking on the development, the Chairman, Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (OYORUWASSA), Alhaji Babalola Afobaje, attributed the achievement to the effective implementation of Governor Seyi Makinde’s Omituntun 2.0 development agenda.
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‎He emphasized that access to clean water and proper sanitation remains a fundamental human right and a critical driver of public health, economic development, and human dignity.
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‎Alhaji Afobaje, noted that the Open Defecation Free status achieved by the Ona-Ara Local Government followed a rigorous assessment conducted in collaboration with state and local stakeholders, and technical support from UNICEF.
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‎The evaluation confirmed full access to hygienic toilet facilities across households and public institutions.
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‎Afobaje noted that the success was largely driven by the Community-Led Total Sanitation approach, which promotes behavioral change and strong community ownership.
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‎Reinforcing sustainability, OYORUWASSA’s General Manager, Mr. A.M. Adeduntan, highlighted ongoing investments in solar-powered boreholes to ensure reliable water supply.
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‎He added that similar sanitation initiatives are underway in other local governments, positioning Ona-Ara’s achievement as a model for replication and a major step toward a healthier, open-defecation-free Oyo State.
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