The Kwara State Government has raised fresh concerns over the growing health and environmental risks associated with open defecation, calling on residents across the state to embrace proper sanitation practices to safeguard public health.

In a statement issued by Bashir Turawa, the Assistant Press Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, the government emphasised the urgent need for improved sanitation and hygiene practices across communities.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, sounded the warning during a sensitisation programme in Ilorin, organised by the Kwara for Kwarans Initiative in collaboration with the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency.

"Open defecation contributes significantly to the spread of diseases and also plays a role in worsening climate change," Lade said.

"This practice contaminates our water sources, exposes communities to infections, and ultimately reduces the quality of life of our people," he added.

"We must begin to see sanitation not just as a personal issue but as a public responsibility that affects everyone," the commissioner stressed.

He pointed out that poor sanitation practices not only endanger human health but also degrade the environment, thus urging communities to take ownership of hygiene practices in their homes and public spaces.

"Clean surroundings are essential for healthy living. Every household and business owner has a role to play in ensuring a hygienic environment," he said.

The Commissioner commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his administration's interventions in the construction of public toilets across the state, describing the initiative as a critical step towards improving sanitation and curbing open defecation.

"These efforts are essential in promoting safe sanitation and protecting the health of our people," he stated.

"We will continue to expand access to sanitation facilities, but citizens must also make proper use of them," Lade emphasised.

He further called on non-governmental organisations to support the government initiatives aimed at eradicating poor sanitation while appealing to individuals to maintain clean surroundings as a collective responsibility.

"We cannot achieve total sanitation without the collaboration of all stakeholders, including NGOs, community leaders, and residents," Lade insisted.

Earlier in his remarks, the Convener of the Kwara for Kwarans Initiative, Anjorin Babatunde, explained that the sensitisation programme was designed to educate market men and women on the dangers associated with open defecation.

"This programme is aimed at sensitising traders, shop owners, and the entire market community on the dangers of open defecation and the need to adopt hygienic practices," Babatunde stated.

"We believe that awareness is the first step towards behavioural change, and that is why we are engaging directly with the people at the grassroots," he added.

Also speaking, the General Manager of RUWASSA, Mr Olorunfemi Oladipo, urged traders to desist from open defecation both within the market and in their homes.

"It is important that we all embrace hygienic practices to ensure a healthier environment for ourselves and future generations," Oladipo said.

"Sanitation facilities are meant to be used, and we must develop the discipline to use them consistently," he maintained.

In his response, the Chairman of Oja-Tuntun market, Mr Moshood Funsho, expressed gratitude to the commissioner for the visit and highlighted some of the challenges facing the market.

"We appreciate this visit and the awareness it brings. However, we appeal for improved water supply, additional public toilets, and the provision of waste bins to enhance sanitation within the market," he requested.

"With better facilities in place, it will be easier for traders and customers to maintain proper hygiene," Funsho observed.

Similarly, a representative of the Kwara State Sustainable Development Goals, Mr Damilola Adebayo, emphasised the need for collective action in achieving safe sanitation.

"We must prioritise hygiene and encourage others within our community to do the same in order to achieve safe sanitation for all," Adebayo urged.

"Ending open defecation is not just a government goal; it is a shared responsibility that requires commitment from everyone," he said.

Participants at the programme, including traders, stakeholders, and government officials, were unanimous in their call to end open defecation and promote healthier communities across Kwara State.