Ondo arrests 94 environmental offenders

Kemi Olatunde
No fewer than 94 offenders were arrested on Saturday (today), by a combined team of officials of Ondo State Ministry of Environmental and the State Waste Management Authority (ODSWMA), during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the state.
They were picked up at different locations over sanitation offences during the exercise.

This is coming as ODSWMA General Manager, Mr. Fola Omowole, hinted that there will be mobile sanction for offenders of the monthly exercise in the State as from June edition.
In addition, offenders will be issued violation ticket while they may also be mandated to do community service during the three hours meant for the exercise.

Omowole disclosed this while speaking with The Hope shortly after the May edition of the exercise in Akure on Saturday.
According to him, some people, especially inter states travellers don’t comply with the sanitation law of the state, noting that it will no longer be business as usual as government will make necessary tools available for community service between 7am and 10am in the next exercise.

Addressing drivers of arrested vehicles during the exercise, Omowole noted that there is no ignorance in law, adding that anyone arrested would henceforth be penalized.
He said; The Environmental sanitation law of Ondo State states that all offenders should be taken to court. By next month exercise, anyone arrested will not only wait until the exercise is over but will be penalized. He will also be made to cut the bushes around.”
Speaking earlier during the exercise, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Oyeneyin Oseni,.said that government is set to enforce policy and also improve its sensitisation program on the importance of environmental sanitation exercise.
He explained that recently, the state was listed among the epic states for Lassa fever in the country, stating that efforts are in top gear to ensure the reduction of its incidence in the state.
While stating that government is working towards combating the scourge through surveillance, he commended the Federal Ministry of Environment for its efforts in curtailing its spread.
The Commissioner called on residents to embrace the exercise, adding that they should make it a lifestyle to improve the state of the environment.
The team led by the Commissioner monitored the exercise in strategic places in the state including Akure and Odigbo Local Government Areas of the state