By Kemi Olatunde

Residents and business owners in Ondo State have been admonished to key into government’s policy aimed at maintaining cleaner environment during the rainy season.

Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Sunday Akinwalere made the appeal while monitoring the April edition of the monthly sanitation exercise in Akure.

He appealed to them, to cultivate the habit of desilting the drainage systems in front of their premises at all times, especially now that the rain was heavy, saying such exercise would help the state overcome flooding.

According to him, “The Akeredolu-led administration has put a lot of structures on ground and backed them with money to finance environmental issues.”

“Since government cannot do it alone, we are appealing to everyone across board, to embrace our various policies towards making the state more cleaner and safer during rainy period.

The Commissioner added that the present administration has procured two additional Swamp Buggies for channelization of rivers and other waterways across the three Senatorial Districts to prevent flooding in the rainy season.

He explained further, that he had met with chairmen of local governments over issues bothering on environmental matters and expressed satisfaction, that they arrived at a fruitful synergy.

“The level of waste management in the state is becoming more worrisome and by the special grace of God, with the synergy among the stakeholders, best and desired results would be achieved”, he assured.

Also speaking, General Manager, Waste Management Authority, Rev (Mrs) Ayo Adeyemo, frowned at the indiscriminate dispose of refuse at the popular Ilesa Motor Park in Akure.

She condemned the activities of the drivers who were busy loading passengers, rather than participating in the sanitation exercise.

She encouraged the leadership of the motor park to procure approved waste bins to keep their environment clean at all times and avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

The General Manager, however, said the sanitation team visited other places where the level of compliance was satisfactory.

Her words: “This period being the rainy season is very crucial and I want to appeal, that residents should desist from disposing their refuse indiscriminately or empty them inside the drainages.

“Drainages are meant for free flow of water and should not be sealed up with wastes so as to avoid flooding which if not prevented, could destroy properties and render people homeless”, she stated.

On his own, Chairman of Akure South Local Government, Mr Gbenga Olaniyi who expressed satisfaction over residents’ compliance during the exercise said it can be improved upon for a more cleaner environment.

Some of the areas monitored include, Oyemekun road, Adegbola street, Ilesha Motor Park, business centres among other places.