The Oyo State Government has inaugurated a steering committee to drive its new water, sanitation and hygiene agenda. The Oyo State Sustainable Urban and Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OYO-SURWASH) Steering Committee will guide the rollout of the newly signed Oyo State Urban Sanitation Policy. Consequently, the state now has a dedicated body to coordinate the work.
The inauguration took place at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Conference Hall. Commissioner Ademola Aderinto presided and also chairs the committee. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Sunday Akinwale Moradeyo, serves as vice chairman. Meanwhile, Sanitarian Areo Bukola Oluseun, the Director of Environmental Health Services/Sanitation, acts as secretary.
Aderinto explained why the state set up the committee. He said it will help the government achieve the objectives and gains of the OYO-SURWASH Programme. Furthermore, he stressed that water supply, sanitation and hygiene are collective responsibilities. Therefore, the state cannot leave them to the Ministry of Environment alone. Instead, it needs an “inter ministerial and multi stakeholder approach.”
He also highlighted the programme’s potential. According to Aderinto, SURWASH provides an investment-driven framework that can attract collaboration and improve sanitation. In addition, he said residents stand to gain from better public health, well-being, productivity and life expectancy. Clearly, the government wants people to see the programme as more than a sanitation exercise.
The committee’s membership reflects that wide view. It includes commissioners and representatives of relevant ministries and agencies. It also brings in non-governmental organisations and the private sector. The government says this mix shows its commitment to inclusive participation and coordinated action across the state.
The private sector voiced strong support at the event. Mr. Abduganiyu Abdulateef Olanrewaju, who leads Zero Degree and Solutions Limited, sits on the committee for the Oyo State Young Professionals Programme. He commended the state government for the initiative. Moreover, he reaffirmed that private partners will back the successful implementation of OYO-SURWASH.
Olanrewaju also shared a concrete update. He said his organisation already works with the government on projects that improve public sanitation, including public toilets. He then revealed that the government recently approved more than 40 public toilet units across the five geopolitical zones of Oyo State. According to him, construction will begin soon.
Representatives of the commissioners who attended also spoke. In separate goodwill messages, they pledged their ministries’ and agencies’ commitment to the policy. They promised to contribute their quota to the committee’s mandate. Commissioner for Information Prince Dotun Oyelade shared these details in a statement dated November 4, 2026.
The move builds on earlier efforts. SURWASH is a World Bank-supported programme, and Oyo has already signalled its interest in it. At an earlier workshop in Ibadan, stakeholders pointed to gaps the state needs to address, such as the lack of a legal framework for water, sanitation and hygiene. Likewise, the state has stepped up day-to-day enforcement. In May, Aderinto replaced the monthly sanitation exercise with daily monitoring and said “cleanliness must become a daily responsibility.”
The government has also begun building public toilets in markets as part of a campaign to end open defecation. For example, it started with a facility at Ojoo Market in Ibadan. Together, these steps show a clear push toward cleaner public spaces.
Ultimately, the committee’s success will depend on teamwork across ministries and steady funding. Residents will also watch closely to see whether the promised toilets and services reach their communities. For now, the state has set up the structure. The next few months will show how well it delivers.
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