By: Tope OYEKAN

As part of activities commemorating the 2021 World Toilet Day, the Executive Chairman, Ikenne Local Government, Hon. Olusegun OGUNLEYE, has raised his voice against the act of open defecation.

Hon. OGUNLEYE while speaking during the commemoration of the 2021 World Toilet Day and foundation laying of Wash Facilities at the Kara Market, Ogere Remo, counselled on the need for each household to have a functional and active toilet.

According to the Chairman, "Valuing Toilets", the theme for this year's celebration is to highlight the importance of sanitation and hygiene in driving improvements in public health, gender equality, education, economic development, and environmental protection.

"It is worrisome that a whopping 4.2 billion of the world population are still living without a safely-managed sanitation, while almost 1 billion people still practice open defecation.

A continuous effort must therefore be made by the government and Non-Governmental Organisations, to ensure the realisation of the SDG 6, which is aimed at providing water and sanitation for all by the year 2030", said the Chairman.

"Most importantly, we must also work towards achieving the Ogun State government's target of ending open defecation by 2025", the Chairman further said.

The council boss used the opportunity to appeal to all house owners to construct a safe toilet in their respective households, as the absence of one can endanger the lives of residents.

He also urged the people of the council area to always maintain a good and healthy hygiene, and make use of toilets during defecation.

He thanked the donor of the facilities, the Organised Private Sector-Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WaSH), for the kind gesture extended to Ikenne Local Government, assuring them of good usage of the facility, by the benefitting community.

He also called on the donor to consider construction of similar facilities in other towns within the local government.

In his remarks, the Honourable Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Taiwo OLUDOTUN, charged Sanitation Officers to ensure that the facilities are well-maintained and properly-managed, and to also intensify the awareness campaign on the One House Per Toilet,  One Toilet Per House Campaign", towards putting an end to open defecation.

In his goodwill message, the National Coordinator of OPS-WaSH, Dr. Nicholas IGWE, represented by Mr. Grand VICTOR, thanked all their development partners, who supported the WaSH campaign, particularly a Nigerian Real Madrid, Spain footballer, Mr. David ALABA, who donated funds for the construction of the pilot project at Ogere.

He called on Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora, to also invest in WaSH activities, as every contribution will go a long way in bringing them one step closer to the realisation of the 2025 target of putting an end to open defecation.

Present at the event were the Head of Local Government Administration, Ikenne Local Government, Engr. Olanike OGUNBONA, FNSE; the Ologere of Ogere, represented by the Olisa of Ogere, Dr. David OSITELU; the Seriki Hausawa Ogere, Alhaji Abubarka SAMNAKA; Chairman, Kara Market Traders Association, Ogere; and Alhaji Sanni ESKURE, Vice Chairman, Perishable Items Traders Association.