The Kwara State Government has reiterated its commitment to orienting the citizens against open defecation and the threat posed to public health and safety.

The General Manager of Kwara State Rural Water Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Olorunfemi Oladipo, made the emphasis on Wednesday during a visit to Wara in Ilorin West Local Government Area.

Mr Oladipo said the visit was in continuation of the statewide engagements with key stakeholders to stamp out open defecation in the state.

According to the general manager, a combination of both local and state monitoring teams has been constituted.

“The monitoring teams will work with a mandate to ensure that every household in the state has at least one toilet to discourage open defecation. The agency believes a lot can be achieved through local government authorities, which are closer to the grass-roots. So, we promise to sustain the engagements with the local councils until the agency accomplishes its mission.

He said, “Kwara State, through RUWASA, has since kick-started the Clean Kwara Campaign to fully achieve goal six of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is access to affordable water and sanitation for all. Three out of six pilot local governments, namely Ilorin South, Oke-Ero, and Ilorin West, have now been engaged, while the remaining ones, Patigi, Ekiti, and Ifelodun, will be covered soon.’’

Mr Oladipo also said that the government was committed to improving people’s access to potable water and sanitation.

He called on key stakeholders to collaborate with the administration to achieve an open defecation-free status.

In his remarks, Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government Council, Abdulrahman Ladan, applauded the various visionary programmes and initiatives of the state government.

He affirmed that the council had already keyed into the programme with its inclusion in the 2025 budget appropriation to provide toilets in schools, markets, and public places, alongside boreholes for several communities.

Similarly, the Head of Sanitation and Hygiene department of the agency, Abdulazeez Rufai, appealed to the residents to always be hygienic for their safety.

He assured them that the agency was working around the clock to ensure that the government’s target to rid the six pilot local governments of open defecation by May was fulfilled.

(NAN)