The Oyo State Government has gone tough with residents dirtying Ibadan, the state capital as it arrested and prosecuted 60 residents, who flouted the state’s environmental sanitation laws.
Those erring residents arrested last along Bodija, Iwo-road, Beere, Sapati, Elewi-Odo, Ojoo, Gate, Oke-bola, and few other areas in Ibadan were all arraigned before Magistrate, Raheem Wasiu.
The Oyo State Environmental Tribunal court, today, fined not less than 60 persons for flouting the state’s Environmental sanitation laws during the week exercise along Bodija, Iwo-road, Beere, Sapati, Elewi-Odo, Ojoo, Gate, Oke-bola, and few other areas in Ibadan.
Pronouncing his verdict, Magistrate Wasiu stated that in as much as the offenders were caught dumping refuse in unauthorized areas, they were guilty as charged and therefore, imposed a fine between ₦5000 and ₦25,000 on the offenders depending on the degree of offences.
Three of the offenders opted for community services because they do not have money to pay for the fine.
Reacting to the judgment, the Commissioner of Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Abiodun Oni, commended the Magistrate for his professionalism, stressing that the government would not leave any stone unturned towards regaining the environmental sanity in the state.
He said, “No matter how we take care of our environment, it usually has an impact on every stakeholder’s health and as soon as we enforce the law. It goes a long way in making the state a healthy one. Oyo state is a pacesetter state, a state we should be proud of and strife in making it safe and healthy for all and sundry”.
Similarly, the Chairman, Environmental Task Force, ACP Francis Ojomo emphasised that the task force was working on the basis of existing laws on environment in the state and anyone who contravene the laws would be apprehended and brought before the court, stressing that whosoever violate the law would be made to face the consequence of his or her action.
In another development, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Rahman Abiodun Abdu–Raheem and his counterpart from Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Kafilat Omolabake Olayiwola, have visited the Primary, Secondary and Vocational section of the Oyo State Special Basic School , Ogbomoso to ascertain standard of living and needs of the special students.
The visitation is in response to a viral protest video by some of the students who lamented on poor feeding, diversion of food items by the management of the school.
Abdu-Raheem, after a series of findings revealed that the claim by the students on poor feeding could not be substantiated.
During the visit, the commissioners and the entire entourage inspected the store, where foodstuffs and numerous items were visibly kept.
He, however, addressed the cooks, charging them to be more professional in their duties.
The Commissioner assured the students of Engineer Seyi Makinde’s commitment towards improving and promoting conducive learning environment in the State.
He enjoined the staff to work towards reshaping the students for better and avoiding whatever that could make the students have a negative impression of them.
He also warned the workers not to allow themselves to be used as agents of disunity but work according to their conscience.
