No fewer than 80 persons were arrested during the week, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by the state’s Environmental Task Force for violating the environmental laws.
The arrest of the persons were disclosed by Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Abiodun Oni.
He said that the Task Team apprehended offenders at Gate, Aleshinloye, Eleyele, Sabo, Apata, Iwo-road, Ojoo, Moniya, U.I-Agbowo, Sango and General Gas areas in Ibadan.
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In their separate judgements, chairmen of the State’s Environmental Protection Tribunal, Barr. Saheed Ganiyu and Barr. Kunle Abimbola said that the eighty persons were caught dumping refuse in unauthorised places, that hence they were guilty of violating the environmental laws of the state.
As part of the efforts of Oyo State government to resolve the menace of indiscriminate dumping of wastes on road medians, drainages and waterways, the state government has held talks with Hausa leaders headed by the Sarkin Hausawa of Ibadanland, HRH Ali Dahiru Zungeru.
According, Mr. Oni, who led a team from his Ministry to the Palace of the Sarkin Hausawa at Sabo, during the week, the indiscriminate dumping of wastes on road medians, particularly by under-aged children has become a common practice at odd hours within the Sabo community.
He warned the community to desist from the act, as it poses a lot of environmental threats and exposes children to various risks in the state.
“The impact of indiscriminate dumping of wastes in an open space and street begging to the health and socio-economy of the state is indisputable.
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“For instance, exposed wastes have been known to factor communicable diseases that may end up requiring medical attention.
“Thus, maintaining proper hygiene is very important to us, failure to uphold some level may lead to serious health hazards to us as individuals and persons living around us,” he said.
The commissioner stressed that though the community was improving in its environmental sanitation exercise, the State Government desires it to receive the award of the cleanest environment in the nearest future.
The Sarkin of Ibadanland, HRH Ali Dahiru Zungeru appreciated the government for recognizing the community while also pledging their support for any activities in this administration.
