Concerned residents of Oyo town want relevant agencies saddled with the responsibility of providing food security to ensure that local food processors comply with hygienic standards.
The residents who spoke with Radio Nigeria, particularly those who patronize the cassava processing depot for their food items, expressed reservations over the safety of gaari produced in some areas of the town.
According to them, the gaari processors usually allow free-ranging animals such as goats and cows within their premises to feed on their frying trays.
Reacting, Director, Environmental Health Services in Atiba local government area, Alhaja Adefunke Amzat frowned at the attitude, saying it portends grave dangers for human health.
Alhaja Amzat who warned the cassava processors to desist from unhealthy acts capable of inducing animal transmitted diseases maintained that environmental health officers have the capacity to deal with the situation, though they are few in number.
Residents of Oyo town have expressed deep worry over the deteriorating state of environmental sanitation in their various communities, a situation they partly attributed to the sudden disappearance of government refuse trucks from the local government areas.
Some of the residents, who spoke with Radio Nigeria alleged that the trucks, especially that of Atiba and Oyo West local governments were sighted in Ibadan, wondering if Governor Seyi Makinde was aware of the strange development.
A community leader, Mr Dominic Taiwo also allegedly saw one of the trucks in Ibadan actively engaged in the refuse collection while residents of Oyo town where it belongs hire tipper lorries to evacuate their refuse.
Lamenting the disappearance of the refuse trucks from their local government area, traders at the Akunlemu garage indicated their readiness to fuel the truck whenever it is available to serve their interests.
They called for urgent investigation before refuse heaps spread out of control with risks of epidemics in the area.
Some Directors of Environmental Health services contacted in the affected local government councils declined comments.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, says Security chiefs are working effortlessly to ensure peaceful atmosphere in the country.
General Irabor disclosed this during his visit with other Service Chiefs to the Nigerian Army 2 Division Headquarters, Ibadan.
He said the visit of the service chiefs was to demonstrate leadership by example as the situation of the county demanded that the armed forces work together.
General Irabor said the security chiefs had received briefing from the General Commanding Officer (GOC) on what all the armed forces were doing in the command collectively at ensuring that the President Buhari’s directive came into reality.
The Chief of Defence Staff commended the officers for what they had been doing so far and charged them not rest on their oars and ensure that they overcame the security challenges in the country.
The service chiefs team including Chief of Army Staff(COAS), Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao also paid a courtesy call on Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
They assured the people of Oyo State that they would find lasting solutions to the lingering insecurity crises bedeviling the state.
He further promised a solid collaboration among the armed forces to ensure that the President Buhari’s agenda at ensuring a crime free society is achieved.
The security chiefs also paid a courtesy call on Governor Seyi Makinde of oyo state.
Meanwhile, a new General Officer Commanding, GOC, Major General Gold Chibuisi has assumed office at the 2 division Nigerian Army, Odogbo Barrack, Oojo Ibadan.
General Chibuisi took over from the out-gone GOC, Major General Anthony Omozoje.
The new GOC was deployed from department of civil military affairs headquarters, Abuja.
While familiarizing with the officers and men of the division, Major General Chibuisi said he would consolidate on his predecessor achievements by ensuring crime-free atmosphere.
He implored the officers and members of the public to collaborate with the division to have a better society.
The new GOC promised officers and men of the division of a conducive working environment.
The out-gone GOC, Major General Anthony Omozoje said he would miss the division and called for continuous support from all and sundry, especially the officers and men to collectively wage war against insecurity.
Major general Anthony Omozoje had been elevated to the post of Chief of Civil Military Affairs, headquarters Abuja.
