Alagbaa, a 350-year-old settlement in Akanran area of Ona-Ara of Oyo State is made up of seven smaller communities — Moyo, Idisango, Aba Oro, Kuye, Idi Ogun, Amosun Agbele, and Eleni. This community is waging a determined battle against open defecation, with its traditional leader, Baale Muili Abidemi, at the forefront.
“We fine households without toilets,” the Baale said matter-of-factly, during a chat with reporters. “Open defecation is problematic — both health-wise and economically. Alaagba is now a model for other communities still practicing it.”
Once a community struggling with sanitation-related diseases, Alaagba has transformed into a shining example of grassroots action and behavioral change. Baale Abidemi recalls how, a decade ago, filth and disease overwhelmed the area due to poor hygiene practices. “Eight or ten years ago, before adopting proper water and sanitation methods, the environment was in a bad state,” he said.
That tide has turned. Through the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiative, the community now enjoys treated borehole water distributed across designated points, while awareness campaigns and local enforcement ensure that no household is left behind.
Under Alaagba’s strict but effective system, households without toilets are fined N1,500, with repeat offenders facing higher penalties and public admonition. The result has been a dramatic increase in compliance and a visible improvement in living standards.
“We started this to make people take responsibility,” the Baale explained. “Everyone must play their part in keeping Alaagba clean.”
Beyond enforcement, the community’s success owes much to collaboration — with local sanitation officers, UNICEF, and other stakeholders offering support and technical guidance.
For residents like Mrs. Iyabode Olasupo, the benefits are tangible. Beaming with pride as she showed her family’s new toilet facility, she said, “We thank UNICEF, sanitation officers, and all those who helped. Life is better when your environment is clean.”
However, challenges persist. Some nearby villages still lack boreholes and basic health infrastructure, and the Baale is appealing for more government intervention to sustain the gains.
Despite these gaps, Alaagba’s progress has not gone unnoticed. Neighboring communities in Ona-Ara are now adopting similar sanitation policies, inspired by Alaagba’s success story.
From being once plagued by open defecation to becoming a symbol of community-driven transformation, Alaagba stands as proof that when traditional leadership meets public health awareness, real change begins — one toilet at a time.
