Dele Olaosebikan
OYO State government Wednesday sealed a popular business facility, located at the Barracks Bus Stop, Iwo Road axis of Ibadan, for its failure to comply with environmental regulations in the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Architect Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, during an inspection exercise, directed officials to seal the business premises for its incessant violation of environmental laws after several monitoring and warnings.
According to Architect Mogbonjubola, the popular shopping complex was locked up for its incessant failure to register with an accredited waste contractor.
The Commissioner said monitoring of the complex revealed that there was the absence of sanitary refuse drums, leading to its regular indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised places, contrary to the extant environmental laws of the state.
Architect Mogbonjubola clarified that the action taken by the ministry was necessary to forestall unwarranted outbreaks of diseases in the area.
He, therefore, called on residents, shop owners, and corporate bodies to abide by the state environmental regulations to avert sanctions.
In a related development, the Oyo State government has reaffirmed its commitment to intensify measures to tackle flood and erosion in a bid to safeguard the lives and property of its citizens.
Architect Mogbonjubola disclosed this during an advocacy and sensitisation programme for the 11 local government councils in the Ibadan zone.
The event, organised by the Nigeria Erosion and Watersheds Management Project (OYONEWMAP) was held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan South East Local Government Area.
According to a statement signed by the Project’s Communication Officer, Bukola Bakare, the advocacy and sensitisation programme on early warning and action on flood and erosion hazards was a follow-up to a similar programme held in Saki, Ogbomoso, Eruwa, Oyo, and Iseyin.
The statement added that the commissioner said the programme was necessary to reawaken local government councils, community leaders, youth leaders, and market men and women to their collective roles and build their capacities in achieving a sustainable environment that would foster development and healthy living for the people of Oyo State.
Eighteen-Eleven Media