Sanitation and Public Hygiene in Osogbo, 2010-2018

Abstract

This article explores the evolution of sanitation and public hygiene in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, Nigeria, between 2010 and 2018. It situates the discussion within broader historiographical debates on urban sanitation in Nigeria, governance reforms, and postcolonial African urban development. Drawing insights from environmental and public health history as well as urban studies, the study analyzes how sanitation reforms implemented under Governor Rauf Aregbesola mirrored and contributed to larger trends in Nigerian statecraft and urban governance. Key initiatives during the period included the criminalization of open defecation, infrastructural renewal through programmes such as “Operation Zero Potholes,” and the construction of Osogbo’s first inner ring road network, which improved mobility and enhanced waste management. The reforms also emphasized public health education, community participation, and youth engagement through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Collaboration with international organizations such as UNICEF and the World Bank supported interventions like the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO), which combined environmental cleanup with youth empowerment. Efforts under the “Clean Osun State Campaign,” the establishment of the Osun Waste Management Agency (OWMA), and the rehabilitation of public toilets further advanced urban hygiene. Nonetheless, persistent challenges—including inadequate sanitation facilities and irregular waste disposal—reflect the continuing tension between policy ambition, administrative capacity, and citizens’ lived realities. The article concludes that Osogbo’s experience demonstrates both progress and constraint in postcolonial sanitation reform and provides important lessons for sustainable urban governance in African cities.