By Kemi Olatunde

The Ondo State Government has emphasised the need for Environmental Health Officers across the 18 Local Government areas to be more proactive in ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment.

Chairman of the Ondo State Waste Management Authority (OSWMA), Mrs Olayinka Alabi, made this call on Tuesday while declaring open the 2025 annual retreat for management, supervisors, and key stakeholders of the Authority in Akure.

According to her, officers must be more visible and proactive, ensuring their presence is felt across all LGAs.

“You must be active to the point that any existing gaps will be recognised,” she stated.

She explained that the retreat aimed to assess staff performance over the past year, recognise outstanding contributions, and strategise for the year ahead.

Mrs Alabi praised Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for his support of the Authority and urged all participants to engage fully in the programme to help achieve its objectives.

The Administrative Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Mr Olumide Kinga, commended the Authority’s initiative and stressed the need to embrace technology for efficient waste management in the state.

He revealed that there had been 353 cases of Lassa fever, with 112 confirmed cases and 12 deaths, highlighting the urgent need for better waste management planning.

Similarly, the Acting Statistician-General of the state, Mr Olusola Ajayi, assured the OSWMA of the Bureau of Statistics’ readiness to collaborate in achieving a cleaner Ondo State. He noted that 54.8% of the state’s population uses improved sanitation facilities but called for greater dedication to improving waste management.

He urged officers to establish a sustainable waste management system that ensures a cleaner and healthier environment.

Speaking on behalf of the Ondo State Environmental Protection Agency (OSEPA), Mrs Funke Adeoye described the retreat as a valuable platform for reflection, strategic planning, and collaboration.

She emphasised that waste management remains a critical pillar of environmental protection and commended OSWMA for its role in keeping the state clean and habitable.

She further assured OSWMA of OSEPA’s commitment to partnering in developing and implementing policies, programmes, and strategies that promote efficient waste management, recycling, and environmental sustainability.

In a lecture titled “Tapping into IT and Data to Improve Waste Management in Ondo State”, resource person Amaefule Timothy underscored the importance of data collection and analysis in waste management.

He urged officials to advocate for IT integration in waste management policies, embrace innovation, and adopt technology in daily operations.

In another lecture titled “Integrating OSWMA’s Vision and Objectives into the Present Administration’s Development Agenda”, Dr Adeola Alonge stressed the need for a waste management policy in the state.

Describing OSWMA as an establishment that should be a viable revenue-generating agency, he called for public-Private Partnerships in waste management,Public education and community engagement, legislation to strengthen waste management policies.

He emphasised that these measures would help overcome the challenges facing the system.