Governor Ajimobi

GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN

Those that commit environmental crime, especially dumping of refuse in public places in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, risk being committed to three years imprisonment or paying a fine of N50,000, said the General Manager, Oyo State Waste Management Board, Engineer Joseph Alabi.

Alabi said that henceforth, the government would no longer tolerate anyone attempting to drag the state back to when Ibadan was rated to be the dirtiest city in Africa. He added that anyone caught messing up public places would be jailed or made to pay as much as N50000 as fine.

Urging the residents to join hands with the government to make Ibadan clean, he said that the state has partnered with private refuse collectors to assist people to clear their refuse at affordable prices.

“We have registered private refuse collectors. If you don’t have anyone clearing your refuse for you, look for the one accredited to do so for your area or come to our office, we will assign a collector for you. If any refuse collector is not carrying out its obligation, based on agreement, report to us, we will award appropriate sanction. Please, let us join hands with the government to make our state a better one,” Alabi said.

In another development, the state government has warned traders against selling at the road side saying that it is no longer acceptable. The Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Habitat, Mr. Joseph Akinlabi disclosed this.

According to him, any trader caught as from next week selling along the road side will be seriously dealt with.