From Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti
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More than 50 individuals were arrested during the February edition of the Ekiti State environmental sanitation exercise for violating sanitation laws.
The offenders were prosecuted at the Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, presided over by Magistrate Olubunmi Bamidele.
Upon conviction, they were sentenced to one month of imprisonment with the option of a fine.In her ruling, Magistrate Bamidele emphasized that the offenders failed to comply with the state’s environmental health and sanitation guidelines, warning that such negligence poses a serious threat to public health and safety.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Government has urged residents to maintain a high level of environmental hygiene.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Erelu Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, made this call during the sanitation exercise in Ado-Ekiti.
She reiterated that environmental sanitation is a collective responsibility and encouraged residents to actively participate in keeping their surroundings clean.
Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Tunde Balogun, Aluko-Ajisafe reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a hygienic and sustainable environment.
She warned that violators of sanitation laws would continue to face strict penalties as part of the enforcement strategy to maintain compliance.
While urging community leaders and stakeholders to intensify awareness campaigns on the importance of sanitation, the Commissioner stressed that enforcing sanitation laws is a proactive measure to prevent disease outbreaks caused by poor hygiene.
During the exercise, environmental health officials from the Ministry of Environment were deployed across Ado-Ekiti to monitor compliance and restrict movement.
A team from the Environmental Sanitation Task Force, led by the Director of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Mr. Ayodele Aluko, also conducted patrols to ensure compliance.
Following their arrest, all 52 offenders were arraigned before the magistrate court. Out of these, 37 were fined, while 15 were pardoned.