NewStats: 3,264,063 , 8,182,471 topics. Date: Monday, 09 June 2025 at 01:53 PM 6b5l36

Owena Ijesa in Osun State once survived a cholera epidemic. BOLA BAMIGBOLA writes that the community is in the throes of another epidemic as refuse dumps and open defecation dot the community, which relies on the contaminated Owena River for drinking water and other domestic uses

Lawal, while painting gloomy pictures of living in Owena, where houses with modern toilet facilities were as scarce as hen’s teeth, said with the housing population of around 4,000, a little over a quarter of the figure could boast of modern toilets.

“In the Oke-Arandun area, we have about 100 houses, but the ones with toilets are not up to seven.

“Around Sago and Kwara areas, where the majority of the casualties were recorded during the time the epidemic ravaged Owena, there are more than 300 houses, but only about three of them have toilets. The lifestyle of those living in that area is appalling.

“At the Community Grammar School Area, we counted about 52 buildings out of which just four have modern toilet facilities. The situation was slightly better at Oke Ikirun and Oke Iree. At Oke Ikirun, out of over 100 buildings, we have up to 40 that do not have toilets.

“Similarly at Oke Iree, we have about 60 buildings there and we have more than 15 that do not have modern toilet facilities. When modern toilets are not available, dumpsites become a haven for inhabitants of those houses.

“So, as the community is growing, more dumpsites are being created to serve more than the purpose of receiving waste. They are also made toilets,” Lawal further explained.

Health officers absent

During the visit, our correspondent also observed the poor state of the only public healthcare facility in the town.

The head of the facility, a qualified nurse, Gbonjubola Sarumi, refused to grant an interview but allowed our correspondent to have a walk around the premises of the centre, accompanied by Lawal, the community spokesperson.

Refuse dump near PHCBesides the fact that the facility was not fenced, its toilet is old-fashioned and unhealthy for use. Less than a two-minute walk toward Owena River, which skirts the centre at the back, was a growing refuse dump oozing out the stench that could snuff life out of a light-hearted.

Next to the facility at the back, is the Ogun Shrine, where palm oil and other traditional items for worshipping the deity were found on the ground.

Also, from the record made available by Lawal, the facility takes delivery of an average of 10 pregnant women per week, leaving four staff working at the centre overstretched.

The electricity supply to the centre is also said to have been disconnected, while staff , usually use buckets to fetch water from the next building.

Open defecation thriving in Owena -Govt

On the open defecation thriving in Owena, Adeagbo blamed the situation on residents’ refusal to use toilets but preferred to defecate on dumpsites and other available spaces.

The state epidemiologist said government investigation had confirmed that many houses in Owena did not have modern toilets, while occupants of even those buildings with toilets are deliberately not using them due to lack of proper orientation of harmful effects of living in a dirty environment.

Calling for more advocacies to drive home the message around the negative environmental impacts of open defecation, Adeagbo further observed, “What we discovered was that there were houses that do not have toilets. It was their habit.

“It is one thing not to have toilets and it is another that you have, but don’t use. So, we had to do sensitization, telling them why they needed to use their toilets. We did house-to-house sensitisation for three days and told the people at the local government to continue with the sensitisation.

“We went back to meet the king, and his spokesperson told us that the borehole in the palace was not functioning, and we fixed it. The Ministry of Health did a lot of work there also.”

On the poor state of the only PHC in the town, Adeagbo who said the facility remains very strategic in implementing Ademola Adeleke health programmes for the town, also said “It is important to note that the government of the day is renovating health facilities, and the Owena health facility is part of the facilities that have been earmarked for renovation.”

Addressing issues concerning his ministry raised by Owena residents, the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mayowa Adejoorin, assured that the government would ensure that dumpsites in the town were removed.

Adejoorin also said the ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and send more sanitary Inspectors to the town, stating that “We shall work together to see Owena out of dirtiness.

“We are on top of the situation. It is in our plan to work with the Environmental Health officers in the local government to sensitise and enforce the building of standard toilets in all the houses in the state, Owena inclusive. Those dump sites will be removed by the state intervention through the Ministry of Environment in a jiffy. I only implore the citizens to stop dumping refuse indiscriminately.

“Other measures we intend to embark upon include; sensitisation, enforcement and clearing of illegal dump sites by the authority.”

https://punchng.com/open-defecation-refuse-dumps-fuel-epidemic-in-osuns-owena-boundary-community-1/

I don't know.. maybe it's their culture, just like that their other culture that they assist in preserving someone's he*ad.

yelebez and open shitt

Tụfịakwa!

State of emergency should be declared in the SW regarding open defecation not just in Osun state

Why should a house of 6 rooms not having any toilet. Why should stall shops not having toilet?

These shitty-Shitty people sef. After Shitting in the open, they will come to nairaland to claim "sophistication" while defending their druggie president who could not even build toilets for them.
Only 3 out of 100 houses have toilets
Oluwa ohhh!

ResidentSnitch:
I don't know.. maybe it's their culture, just like that their other culture that they assist in preserving someone's he*ad.

it's more of a cultural thing ...I guess

Every Yoruba man is claiming Lagos and leaving their stats and villages to rot

Apart from Lagos (that Igbos developed) all other southwest states are shitty-shityy states

No wonder they all claim Lagos (that stinks of sh1t too)

Developed slowly coming to the South west,last year Oyo got their first toilet


I am impressed

These pipuru and open defecation na wao. Always comming online to claim sophisticated but the whole of the Waste is a dustbin for open pooooing

Welcome to Nigeria

Yelo ba people

Ndi sophistication

My sophisticated brothers, una well done ooo

Sufferiscated shitters.

Declare open defecation state of emergency in osun, iragbiji and oshodi now.

Open defecation is a way of life in Osun and all it's neighbouring states.
Toilet is forbidden in the state. Just find a nearest bush, swamp, hidden corner, gutter or wait till nightfall.

No wonder VDM chastised that Osun man that was openly defecating on lagos bridge. That Lagos is smelling today is also as a result of this people from Osun and their region.

Nigeria should proclaim a law banning open defecation before this people will wipe out a country..
Anywhere yellow ba man dey he must sheet there. Tueh!

The truth is that you cant compare ibo with Yoruba in of rural development.

The gap is wide

It’s an ancient Yoruba culture

Please, let’s respect it

One love 💗

Loooool. If I say what's on my mind, my employer may sack me.

Blacks hardly see the need for basic amenities especially for their fellow black man.

ariesbull:


https://punchng.com/open-defecation-refuse-dumps-fuel-epidemic-in-osuns-owena-boundary-community-1/

Thats what they are known for nau.

This one na news?

During my service year, it was very rare to see houses with toilets in those rural areas. A few had pit toilets though. My one and only case of UTI was from one of these. After successfully treating it, I quietly stuck to 'shot put', or when I could brave the ubiquitous sand flies, bare assed, breeze-caressing-nyash open defecation. You won't quite understand why people opt for open defecation until UTI has shown you shege.

Building houses without toilets should be a crime punishable by imprisonment without an option of fine 😭😭😭

Sophisticated westerners

After eating amala and gbegiri na to start looking for where to shit.

Jokes aside Yoruba people should do sth about their villages. Igbo villages are even neater and more sanitized than some major cities, modern houses, clean pipe borne water mostly donated by individuals and good sanitation, the community youths carry out voluntary sanitation some Saturdays.
I know all these because my construction work have taken me to most SE villages for building.

South West, headquarters of open defecation in the world

After sipping hydraulic ewedu soup,
They will be shittng everywhere pra- pra - pra

Let the war begin