From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
More than 4,000 environmental offenders have been arrested, prosecuted and punished in Oyo State within the past four years that Governor Seyi Makinde was sworn in to administer the state for his first term in office.
The Chairman, Oyo State Environmental Task Force, Mr Francis Ojomo, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), made the disclosure during the trial of some environmental offenders in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday.
According to him, some of the offenders were sentenced by the Oyo State Environmental Protection Tribunal to community service after trial, while others paid fines. He added that over N30 million has been paid by various offenders into the coffers of the Oyo State Government.
Ojomo, who is also the Waste Enforcement Officer for the state enjoined the public to obey environmental laws of the state, towards sustaining the healthiness and good neighbourliness in the society in consonance with Item 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN), which places a premium on sanitation and sustainable environment.
He appealed to Nigerians, especially residents of the state to pay attention to cleaning their environment, as the task force is watching everyone. He also reiterated the commitment of the Oyo State Government towards ensuring a healthy and safe environment.
Ojomo said: “This is not the first time we appeal to members of the public to obey our environmental laws so that we will have sustained peace and health in our society. Item 11, of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, places a premium on sanitation and a sustainable environment. We do not need to attend any formal school to take care of our environment in our own interest.”
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Environmental Protection Tribunal, on Wednesday, convicted five offenders for violating environmental laws in the state.
The Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr Jubreel Kareem, while speaking with journalists, disclosed that during monitoring in Ibadan, the five offenders were arrested.
He said two of the offenders, Olanrewaju Deola and Funmilayo Ayoola, were found disposing of waste illegally in unauthorised places, they also failed to provide a standard refuse drum contrary to Oyo State Environmental Laws, 2013.
The persons admitted to having committed the offences and were convicted to three months of imprisonment or an option of fines of N5000, N2500, and N2500, each.
Another offender, Olabisi Olatunde, who was caught at Preboyes, along UI-Bodija dumping refuse on the median pleaded guilty. The tribunal thereafter fined her N7,500. In the same vein, John Blessing and Ali Sumaiya were caught illegally displaying goods by the roadside at Mokola.
The Tribunal ruled that this is against Section 2 sub-section 14 of the Oyo State Waste Management Law of 2014 and thereafter fined them N2,500 each.
The head of the Tribunal further warned the offenders not to violate the environmental laws of the state henceforth, saying this will serve as a lesson to them and others.
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