By, Omowumi Hannah

The National Task Group on Sanitation has officially validated Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State Open Defecation Free (ODF), marking a major breakthrough in the state’s campaign to improve sanitation, hygiene, and public health.

The announcement was confirmed recently by the Clean Nigeria Campaign.

Speaking on the development, on Wednesday, the Chairman of OYORUWASSA, Alhaji Babalola Afobaje, attributed the milestone to the effective execution of Governor Makinde’s “Omituntun 2.0” development agenda.

He noted that the administration views access to clean water and proper sanitation as fundamental human rights essential to public health, economic growth, and human dignity.

Afobaje added that the validation aligns with the commitment of the Oyo State Government, to achieve an open-defecation-free status across all 33 local government areas by 2028, an agenda central to the state’s broader environmental and public health reforms.

The ODF confirmation followed a rigorous exercise carried out by the National ODF Task Group in collaboration with the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (OYORUWASSA), Ona-Ara Local Government, and with technical support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The evaluation confirmed 100% access to functional and hygienic toilet facilities in households and public institutions across Ona-Ara.

Afobaje highlighted that Ona-Ara’s success was driven by the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach—an evidence-based model focused on behavioral change and community ownership rather than infrastructure alone.

“Today, Ona-Ara stands as a beacon of hope and an exemplary model for other local governments in the state,” he said. “This achievement has significantly reduced the prevalence of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea, especially among children and the elderly”, he said.

Reaffirming the sustainability of the ODF status, the General Manager of OYORUWASSA, Mr. A.M. Adeduntan, disclosed that the agency has constructed multiple solar-powered motorized boreholes across the local government to ensure reliable access to clean water.

“Sanitation outcomes cannot be sustained without adequate clean water supply. The state remains committed to closing this gap to preserve long-term impact,” Adeduntan stated.

OYORUWASSA further revealed that similar sanitation interventions are ongoing in other local government areas, including Ibarapa East and Egbeda, where efforts are being intensified through a combination of environmental law enforcement and expanded access to standard toilet facilities in public and private spaces.

The declaration of Ona-Ara as Open Defecation Free represents a significant public health victory for Oyo State and serves as a compelling call to action for other regions to adopt and replicate the strategies that made this achievement possible.