The villagers of Jago in Oyo State are overjoyed as they finally have access to dignified sanitation facilities after 183 years of existence. The installation of Sato Pan toilets has brought relief to the community, but the struggle to repay the loan for the installation costs has become a challenge. Meanwhile, the neighboring Olufon village still lacks any toilet facilities, and its residents continue to practice open defecation.
Adeola Rasaki, a 17-year-old student from Olufon village, had a terrifying experience while trying to relieve herself in the bush. She encountered a snake, which made her lose the urge to defecate. This incident highlights the dangers of open defecation, which is prevalent in the Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Despite the challenges, the installation of Sato Pan toilets in Jago village has brought a sense of dignity to the community. However, the repayment of the loan for the installation costs has become a burden for many residents. The village head, Chief Olusegun Oparinde, revealed that the community had to resort to a “carrot-and-stick” approach to convince residents to invest in the toilets.
The acquisition process involved signing a credit loan with a microfinance bank, with a repayment plan of N10,000 per month for seven months. However, many residents have defaulted on their payments, causing concerns for the Toilet Business Owners who installed the toilets.
Experts have emphasized the need for a sustainable approach to addressing open defecation. Professor Tanimola Akande stressed that the partnership committee should have assessed the villagers’ ability to pay before embarking on the construction project. He also highlighted the importance of government enforcement in ensuring that every home has a toilet.
The Oyo State government has pledged to penalize anyone caught defecating in the open, as part of its efforts to achieve an open defecation-free status. However, the challenge of repaying the loan for the Sato Pan toilets remains a significant hurdle for the residents of Jago village.
