…as ODSWMA GM, Rev Adeyemo, warns against indiscriminate refuse dump
No fewer than 39 poeple were arrested today Saturday for violating environmental laws.
The General Manager, Ondo State Waste Management Authority (ODSWMA), Rev. (Mrs) Ayo Adeyemo who disclosed this at the end of this month’s edition of the monthly environmental sanitation excise, also added that each of the environmental offenders was given appropriate fines based on the severity of the offence committed.
The sanitation law offenders were arrested at different locations within Akure metropolis during the April edition of the exercise which was also monitored by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Sunday Akinwalere; the acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Olumide Asere and other top officials of ODSWMA.
The GM who appealed to all residents across the state to always cooperate and make cleanliness of their environment a daily affair to ward off all forms of diseases, further said anybody who violates environmental laws would be appropriately sanctioned.
Some of the areas monitored include, Oyemekun road, Oja Oba, (Adedeji Market); Adegbola, Ilesha Motor Park/business centre, among others.
At Ilesha motor park, Rev. Adeyemo encouraged the leadership of the motor park to procure approved waste bins to keep their environment clean at all times and avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
She equally advised other traders operating within the premises and other parts of the state to always make cleanliness their watchword and desist from all forms of unhealthy practices as the rainy season set in.
“This period is very sensitive because it is a rainy season. So, people should not be encouraged to dispose of their refuse indiscriminately, or litter the environment. We should not dump our waste into drainages. Drainages are meant for free flow of water.
“And by the time we dump our waste into drainages we expect the drainage system to be filled up, and you know this can lead to flooding. We pray nobody will be a victim of flooding”, the GM stressed.
Earlier, Commissioner for Environment, Mr Sunday Akinwalere, called for synergy among relevant stakeholders to ensure cleaner and safer environment, saying government alone cannot do it.
He said the present administration in the state led by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has procured two additional Swamp Buggies for channelization of rivers and other waterways across the three Senatorial Districts of the state to prevent flooding in the rainy season.
