Ekiti Seeks Stricter Legislation against Environmental Sanitation Offenders

The Ekiti State Government has moved to tighten noose through stricter legislation that stipulates high punishment against those blocking waterways and perpetrators of all forms of environmental sanitation offences in the state.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua, stated this in Ado Ekiti on Monday during a programme tagged: 'Clean Up Ado Ekiti', which was organised by Triple G Eco Revival Solutions in collaboration with the state government.

During the programme, the collaborating groups performed a street cleaning in Ado Ekiti metropolis, especially at the popular Oja Oba market and other strategic areas within the state capital.

Olumilua, who spoke alongside his counterpart from the Ministry of Environment, Gbenga Agbeyo, said the measure would help to promote the culture of cleanliness and curtail outbreak of infectious diseases in Ekiti State.

"The outbreak of coronavirus and Lassa fever diseases was enough to convince us that we have to promote cleanliness in our dear state. We must stop blocking waterways to check flooding, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and felling of trees, these cause hazards of monumental proportion," he warned.

 

Agbeyo said to promote safety of the environment the state government has sought amendment at the state Assembly to the existing environmental law that would specify more stringent  punishment for violators of environmental sanitation laws when passed and assented to.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Triple G Eco Revival Solutions, Oluwaseyi Ebenezer, expressed sadness on how some people are ignorantly taking the environment for granted.

"It is sad that people are still openly dumping their household refuse even in the state capital. This method of waste disposal does not only litter our streets, but also cause blockage of some water channels making our state prone to flooding.

"Technology has made us understand that 84 percent of our waste can be recycled. We appeal to the state government to partner private investors who will invest in waste recycling business in the state. This will not only give us the overall cleanliness and stop environmental degradation, it will also provide employments for our teeming youths,” she said.

Ebenezer said the state government must step up efforts for better and improved sensitisation programme that would increase the people's consciousness and how best to treat the environment.