By Jimoh Ahmed, Ikare Akoko.

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Residents of Akoko area of Ondo State observed the March edition of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise with total compliance as they all came out on Saturday to clean their surroundings as required by the law guiding the exercise.
In both Akoko Northwest and Northeast local governments, the exercise was very successful as residents complied with restrictions order banning the movement of people between 7.00am and 10.00am while reports from Akoko Southwest, Akoko Southeast, Owo and Ose local governments indicated the same story.
Men of the Nigerian Army, the Police and other paramilitary agents were seen with environmental officers to enforce the exercise.
At Ogbagi Akoko, Arigidi, Afin and Ikaram Akoko, the environmental sanitation team led by the Akoko Northwest Director of Environmental Services, Mr Olusanya Ojo, said the exercise is to create room for a clean environment and healthy living.
He urged residents to abide by the regulations and acts establishing the environmental exercise.
In Akoko Northeast, the head of the Department of Environmental Services, Mrs Yemisi Adeniyi, appealed to residents, particularly in Ikare Akoko which has erosion prone terrain, to abstain from dumping refuse in drainages, canals and waterways.
Adeniyi observed that areas around Jubilee Road, Ilepa, Okorun and Odoruwa in Ikare township is more susceptible to flooding and therefore warned the people against dumping refuse in drainages which had been responsible for flooding in the areas mentioned in the past.
The Onigedegede of Gedegede Akoko, Oba Walidu Sanni while speaking with The Hope in his palace said traditional rulers have significant roles to play in their various communities to effect the implementation of the programme and make it successful every month.
Oba Walidu charged the people of Akoko and Ondo State in general to take the exercise religiously as it is not for the government or those running the affairs of government but for their own benefit.