By Precious Owolabi, Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti State Environmental Sanitation Task Force has sealed a cow-skin (ponmo) processing site located in the Omisanjana area of Ado-Ekiti, for violating the state environmental health and sanitation laws.
The enforcement followed a sanitary inspection carried out by the task force in response to complaints from residents over offensive odour, thick smoke and other pollution-related nuisances emanating from the facility.
During the inspection, officials observed that the operators were burning cow-skins with tyres, plastics and other toxic and prohibited materials, releasing toxic smoke and offensive odours into the atmosphere.
The team also discovered heaps of animal waste, ashes and burnt residues within and around the premises, which served as breeding grounds for flies and other disease vectors.
Other infractions committed by operators of the site included the indiscriminate discharge of waste water into nearby drains, lack of adequate waste disposal facilities and absence of protective gears among workers handling raw hides , all of which contravene environmental and public health standards.
The task force described the situation as hazardous and capable of causing air pollution, disease outbreaks and environmental degradation.
The environmental task force consequently sealed up the site in accordance with the provisions of the Ekiti State Environmental Health and Sanitation Law.
A Verification/Non-Compliance Notice was issued to the owner, directing the immediate suspension of all operations until appropriate corrective measures are implemented.
The inspection findings have also been submitted to the Ministry of Environment for further administrative action.
In the meantime, residents of Omisanjana have expressed relief over the intervention and commended the government’s swift action.
They further appealed for continuous monitoring and enforcement to safeguard public health and ensure a clean environment across the state.