Oyo State Ministry of Environment, through its task force led by Environmental Health Officers, has sealed an eatery in Ibadan over illegal dumping of refuse on a road median.
The action followed an enforcement operation during which a worker of the eatery was apprehended while attempting to dump a heavy sack filled with waste generated from the premises onto the median.
Despite clear evidence, the owner of the eatery denied the arrest of her staff, a claim that was contradicted by the findings of the enforcement team on ground.
Addressing journalists in Ibadan, Mrs. Areo, a Director in the Ministry of Environment, reiterated that the operation was carried out in strict compliance with the provisions of the Oyo State environmental laws, which expressly prohibit indiscriminate dumping of refuse on road medians, public spaces, gutters, and highways. She stated that, under the Environmental Sanitation and Waste Management Regulations of Oyo State, any individual, household, or corporate body found guilty of improper waste disposal commits an environmental offence and is liable to sanctions including the sealing of premises, fines, or prosecution.
The Ministry further stressed that ignorance of the law or denial by property owners does not absolve them of responsibility for the actions of their employees.
The Oyo State Ministry of Environment therefore uses this opportunity to appeal to residents, business owners, and operators of eateries across the state to adopt proper waste management practices. Citizens are urged to bag their waste appropriately and dispose of it only through approved waste collectors and designated disposal points.
Environmental cleanliness is a collective responsibility, and the government will continue to enforce the law without fear or favour.
A clean and healthy Oyo State can only be achieved when everyone plays their part by respecting environmental regulations and protecting public spaces for the common good.
