The Oyo State Government has intensified its enforcement campaign against illegal waste disposal, as 14 offenders were arrested for dumping refuse on road medians in different parts of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The arrests were made by the Oyo State Environmental Response Rapid Squad in collaboration with Environmental Health Officers attached to the Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
In accordance with the provisions of the Oyo State Environmental Sanitation and Waste Management Regulation (2013) and the Oyo State Environmental Law Cap 173, the offenders were promptly arraigned before a Mobile Court situated within the premises of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Ibadan.
Presiding over the proceedings, Justice Abimbola found all 14 offenders guilty of violating the state’s environmental laws and subsequently fined them ₦40,000 each to serve as a deterrent to others engaging in similar illegal acts.
Speaking after the trial, officials from the Ministry reaffirmed the commitment of the Oyo State Government to ensuring a cleaner, healthier, and safer environment for all residents. They warned members of the public to desist from dumping refuse on road medians, drains, and open spaces.
“The Oyo State Government remains resolute in its mission to maintain environmental cleanliness across the state. We urge residents to cooperate with the government by properly disposing of their waste and patronizing only authorized waste collectors,” the statement read.
The Ministry further warned that similar operations will continue across all local government areas in Oyo State, and that defaulters will face the full wrath of the law.
