Environment

Oyo Govt Seals Church over Noise Pollution

By Web News 468

By Kayode Banjo

Oyo State Government, has sealed a new generation Church, located at Golden Estate, Oluyole, Ibadan, the State capital.

The measure was taken by the State Government, against a branch of Christ Life Church in the area, after several unresolved steps taken by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to mediate among the complainants, residents and the church management.

According to the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, the State Government was left with no other options, but to seal the church premises to avert preventable escalations of brewing tensions between the residents and the church on Sunday.

Some members of the community had locked the estate gate against members of Christ Life Church, preventing services to hold.

Mr Mogbonjubola, declared that the present administration would not fold its arms and allow escalations of any sort.

Officials of the Ministry on receipt of several complaints from next door residents to the Church, over the incessant noise, through official letters and phone calls, visited the area, on Thursday 9th November, 2023.

The team recorded the sound level of the church activities at intervals, starting from praise-worship, with an average reading of seventy-four (74) DB (daytime), contravening the Extant Environmental Regulations of 2023, Section 58, Paragraph (b) which states that the noise limits for residential areas at daytime must not exceed 65DB.

Hence, it was ascertained with sound measurements that the church constituted noise pollution.

He emphasized that a resolution meeting was held with the parties, in the Ministry’s conference room on 29th November 2023, where the Church refused to sign an undertaking letter, with the excuse to get approval from its Headquarters and report back on Monday 4th December 2023.

The Ministry frowned at the consistent crisis, which consequently resulted in the sealing of the church.

The Commissioner, however, warned against the occurrence of noise pollution, both by churches, mosques, clubhouses, industries, companies and marketplaces, as violators would be prosecuted.

He reiterated that Oyo State has fully become a rule-of-law state, where things must be done rightly.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Environment

Oyo Govt. Demolishes Illegal Structures Shielding Public Schools

By Web News 526

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Oyo State Government has evacuated Three Hundred and Fifty Nine (359) illegal structures and shanties shielding its public primary and secondary school premises within the Ibadan metropolis.

The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, during the exercise today, reiterated the government’s commitment to bring sanity to school premises in the state.

Mr  Mogbonjubola, about two months ago, directed the issuance of eviction letters, which were dispatched through the principals and heads of the affected schools.

The eviction notices were also directly issued to owners of the illegal shops, shanties, and structures, which were acknowledged by them.

He assured of the readiness on the part of government to remove all impediments capable of distractions around school premises towards a more conducive learning environment in the state.

According to the Honourable Commissioner, “we would not rest on our oars, until sanity is maintained…every student stands to learn better and maximize his/her potential, only if the learning environment is favorable….the present administration of His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde, will never look away from this reality”.

Consequently, about forty-five schools, where the illegal structures were feasibly erected, now wear better looks.

Schools around Ode Aje, Orita Aperin, especially, IMG, Ode Aje; Islamic Primary and Secondary Schools; IMG Olubadan Basic Schools 1, 2 and 3, Orita Aperin; Government Technical College, Orita Aperin; Christ Church High school; United Mission College Demonstration School 1, Molete; IDC Basic School, Adobe; St. Stephen’s Primary School, Alegongo; Community High School Alegongo.

Also Issabatudeen Girls’ Grammar School, Orita Basorun; St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School, Yanbule; Methodist Grammar School Bodija; Emmanuel College, U.I, and host of others were sanitized.

The Honourable Commissioner, however, warned owners of the illegal shanties against further occupation of the school premises to avoid facing the wrath of Oyo State Environmental laws.

Earlier, the Executive Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde had during one of his night inspections in Ibadan metropolis discovered arrays of shanties and illegal structures overshadowing most schools and their fences, a situation he described as highly disgusting and inappropriate.

In another dimension, Mr Mogbonjubola commended owners of the illegal shops and structures who had complied before the arrival of his team.

Present among the team include: Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Moradeyo Sunday, Directors and Environmental Health Officers.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Transportation

Oyo Government Trains Drivers On Conflict Management

By Web News 655

Oyo State government has trained drivers in the state on social responsibility, team building and conflict management with a view to enhancing mutual relationship between the drivers and private sector.

The drivers who participate in the training are commercial drivers, those attached to appointees of Oyo State government and members of Trans City Transport Company, T.C.T.C of the government.

Governor Makinde who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola at the 2-day workshop held at the International Conference Centre, ICC, University of Ibadan, expressed the present administration’s resolve to restore peace and security across the state by stamping out all forms of violence and brigandage.

Governor Makinde said the transport sector being the hub of economic engagements in the state deserved an enabling environment devoid of rancour and discord.

In a remark, the Oyo State Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Professor Kehinde Sangodoyin reiterated that the workshop would help the drivers to synergize with both the private and public sector.

Some of the participants expressed gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for the peace reigning among the drivers in the state.

Iyabo Adebisi