The Oyo State Government has inaugurated a 20-man State Task Group on Sanitation (STGS) to eliminate open defecation, ensure equitable, safe, drinkable water supply, environmental sanitation and good hygiene by year 2028.

Chaired by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, the Task Group will among other terms of reference, coordinate and drive state-wide implementation of the National Open Defecation Free (NODF) Certification Protocol, sensitize communities, institutionalize hygiene practices across schools, market places, healthcare facilities, and households, the state government said.

While inaugurating the Task Group on Thursday April 24, 2025 at the House of Chiefs Secretariat, Ibadan Oyo State, Deputy Governor, Barr. Bayo Lawal, who was represented by the state's Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said: ?The group will address sanitation gaps in the State and end open defecation in Oyo state by 2028."

He enjoined the new body to step up awareness campaigns at public facilities on the need to own basic sanitation facilities. "Many institutions still lack basic sanitation facilities..... step up the efficacy of awareness, backing it up with tangent reasons to procure these facilities," Prince Oyelade charged.

He said the state government is commited towards eradicating open defecation, which informed the launching of STGS.

Speaking earlier, Chairman, Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (OYORUWASSA), Alhaji Babalola Afobaje, said that the Task Group's inauguration will help improve sanitation and hygiene activities in the state, revealing that Oyo State in the past, ranked among the worst for the prevalence of open defecation, quoting a 2021 survey conducted by the Water Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) to buttress his point and believed this initiative would help in changing the naratives in the state from 2028.

In the same vein, Chairman, Oyo State House of Assembly's Committee on Environment, Ecology and Water Resources, Hon. Olorunpoto Cephas reaffirmed the commitment of the state's House of Assembly to support the mandate through enacting enabling legislation and follow-up with effective oversight and advocacy functions, saying: "our Committee is ready to work closely with RUWASSA, relevant MDAs, local government authorities, traditional institutions, and development partners to ensure this vision becomes a lived reality for our people," he promised.

The inauguration event also had the United Nations Children's Fund, (UNICEF) WASH Consultant, Mr. Monday Johnson, on ground to provide technical support.

Members of the Task Group include, Mr. Omoyele Omofoyewa, Olalekan Isaac, Oyedele Oladayo, Rafiu Baasit, Mr. Obatowon, Mr. Abayomi Yusuff.

Others are: Mrs. Aileru-Foster, Mr. Olamide Adeniji, Mr. Femi Amusan, Mr. Ramoni Afeez Member, Mr. Adedeji Sunday, Mrs. Adewole Deola, Mrs. Oloyede Abimbola, Mrs. Mustapha Haulat, Mrs. Oyewole Bukola, Pastor Marcus, Dr. Adio Olusegun, Alhaja Aliu Jemilat among others.

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