Ekiti State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Mrs Tosin Aluko Ajisafe has charged residents of the state to always abide by environmental sanitation laws and maintain clean and healthy environment.
The Commissioner made the charge at the September edition of monthly environmental sanitation exercise, following the arrest and prosecution of thirty-three persons who flouted state environmental laws.
Chief Mrs Aluko stressed that awareness, advocacy and advertisements have been ongoing on almost all the media outlets in the state on the need for residents to observe the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
She further hinted that the Chairmen, Ado Local Government, Chief Bosun Osaloni, Chairman, Ado West LCDA, Hon. Taiwo Alagba, Ado North LCDA, Hon. Yomi Oso and Ado Central LCDA, Engr. Toyin Ojo as well as Iyalojas and Iyalajes were invited to her office to form synergy with the ministry on compliance of the sanitation exercise.
“We have been sensitizing people through radio jingle to desist from contravening Environmental laws, getting to the market after the warning, we are shocked because we met more than five thousand people who came from different Local governments to display their goods” she explained.
Aluko urged the populace to assist Biodun Oyebanji’s-led administration in keeping a clean environment and emphasised that the administration is dedicated to making sure that the environment is safe and free from disease.
The Commissioner frowned at the poor level of adherence to the monthly cleanliness practise by the traders at Okesa market in Ado Ekiti and issued a warning that going forward, stiffer penalties would be meted on those who violate environmental sanitation laws.
While speaking, Mr. Gold Adedayo, the Commissioner for youth and social Development’s team said the activity requires cooperation with other MDAs with the aim to ensure that residents properly clean their environment so as not to contact diseases which could be injurious to their health.While calling on Ekiti youths to work with the present administration to ensure a healthy environment.
Contributing, the Director, Environmental Health and Sanitation, Mr Tunde Balogun noted that tasks force in charge of the monthly exercise would not relent at arresting and prosecuting any culprit.
He said people should be conscious of keeping their environment clean by desilting their drains as well as doing other necessary things that are needful.
“You don’t need to wait until law enforcement agents push you around before you comply with the norms, environment is for everybody and whatever you put into environment is what you get” Balogun added.
In the interim, a magistrate court heard the case of the 33 defaulters who were found commuting within the Ado-Ekiti metropolies
The defaulters broke the Ekiti State Environmental Sanitation Law, the Magistrate Olubunmi Bamidele stated in her judgement. As a result, she gave them a month’s jail time with the option of a #5,000 fine.
Top government officials who monitired the exercise alongside the Commissioner for Environment included; Special Adviser, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, Dr. Ekundayo Moyo; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Babatunde Alokan; General Manager, Ekiti State Waste Management Authority, Engr. Ayoola