News

Oyo Government Warns Against Indiscriminate Dumping of Refuse

By Web News 713

Two of the state government tribunals have prosecuted 40 persons for indiscriminate dumping of refuse and lack of proof of registration with authorized waste evacuators.

Others are those caught contravening laws restricting movement of persons during sanitation hours.

The fine according to the state ministry of environment varied from 2,500 naira and 10,000 naira.

The chairman of the Oyo State Environmental Task Force, Mr Francis Ojomo, while speaking with journalists said the state would not relent in ensuring cleanliness of the environment due to its effect on the ecosystem.

Mr Ojomo called on the residents of Oyo state to embrace regular sanitation of their environment for a healthy society.

He said the environmental protection was not only vital to the state but also to the world as various international conversations centered on climate change and global warming.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr Bashir Olanrewaju assured the general public that the present government was committed to acts that would ensure safe public health.

Dr Olarenwaju enjoined the public to abide by environmental laws and avoid illegal dumping of refuse by the road side, waterways and unauthorized places which he said would attract heavy fines of jail terms in accordance with the provision of the law.

Iyabo Adebisi

Environment

Waste Disposal: Oyo Govt. Set to Arrest, Prosecute Offenders

By Web News 747

Oyo State Government says it will commence strict enforcement of environmental laws from next week and duly prosecute offenders of improper waste disposal.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Bashir Olarenwaju made this known at a press briefing while introducing the new chairman of the State Environmental Task Force, Francis Ojomo, an assistant commissioner of police.

Dr Olanrewaju explained that the task force was drawn from various sectors including organized private sector and non-state actors to curtail the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on waterways and enforce stiffer punishment on offenders.

The chairman of the environmental task force, who was the area commander of Apata Police Division before his appointment, Mr Francis Ojomo promised to deliver appropriately, noting that there would be no room for negotiation for offenders caught violating the state environmental laws. 

Mr Ojomo also added that the task force would combine persuasion and necessary force to achieve its mandate of ensuring a clean and healthy environment

Iyabo Adebisi

Environment

Flooding: Relocate, Oyo Govt Appeals to Residents

By Web News 754

Oyo State Government has appealed to residents in flood prone areas to temporarily relocate to avoid any disaster as government intensifies effort to forestall flood within those areas.

Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Kehinde Ayoola made the appeal during an inspection exercise to areas of flood scare following yesterday’s downpour. 

The commissioner enjoined residents to desist from any act capable of blocking drainage and water channels while assuring that government would put drastic measures in place to abate flood threat in the state.

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Bashir Olarenwaju also urged people to be proactive in ensuring that property and lives were not lost based on the report by the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA), that heavy down pour should be expected in the state.

Some community leaders and residents of Olodo, Wofun and environs, appreciated the concern and appealed to the state government to expedite actions on planned interventions to address the challenges .

Places visited included  Olodo, Wofun, Kute ,Jerinyin and other suburb within Ibadan metroplolis.

Commissioner for works, Professor Raphael Afonja and officials from the state emergency management agency and other government functionaries were on the inspection tour.

Iyabo Adebisi