By Kemi Olatunde

The Ondo State Environmental Protection Agency (OSEPA) has vowed to take decisive action against facility operators who fail to comply with environmental regulations.

The Agency’s Administrative Secretary, Mrs Funke Adeoye, issued the warning while declaring open a one-day stakeholders’ engagement with operators from various sectors of the economy.

She underscored the necessity of periodic environmental audits to ensure sustainability, stressing that the Agency would clamp down on violators of environmental rules and regulations.

According to a statement signed by Mrs Adeoye and made available to Weekend Hope, the engagement, themed “Role of Environmental Auditing in Project Sustainability,” was designed to encourage organisations to prioritise environmental audits, which are mandatory for all operators and must be conducted every two years.

The statement further highlighted that the Agency’s operations had revealed several instances where facility operators bypassed environmental processes and evaded statutory fees—infractions with serious consequences for both the operators and the environment.

It reads: The guest speaker at the event, Prof. Ayo Olajuyigbe of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), emphasised the significance of integrating environmental auditing into project planning and execution.

“He noted that this engagement will help operators reduce risks, improve resource efficiency, and foster long-term environmental responsibility.

“By enforcing environmental laws and promoting a sustainable operating environment, OSEPA aims to make Ondo State the most environmentally friendly state in Nigeria.”