A rigorous exercise carried out by the National ODF Task Group has led to a major breakthrough in Oyo State’s campaign on improved sanitation, hygiene, and public health.
The National Task Group has officially validated the Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State as Open Defecation Free (ODF).The announcement was confirmed by the Clean Nigeria Campaign.
The feat was achieved 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 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.
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 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.
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.