No fewer than three major markets in Oyo town were sensitized on the need to maintain clean environment during an awareness campaign embarked upon by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources recently at the ancient town.
The Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Keyinde Ayoola who led the sensitization team comprising of the Permanent Secretary, Dr Bashir Olanrewaju, Directors and Environmental Health Officers of the Ministry as well as Heads of Local Government Administrators in Oyo town, representatives of Non Governmental Organisations, market leaders among others, said there was dire need to urgently embrace safe environmental habits by the residents of Oyo State to have quality living condition.
The visit to the popular Akesan, Sabo and Ajegunle markets held during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, thus, provided opportunity to monitor the level of compliance of the residents of Oyo town to environmental laws of the State
Ayoola, while addressing the market traders delved into the benefits associated with living in clean environment, noting that such culture could help in achieving a healthy and aesthetics environment for all and sundry.
He noted that indiscriminate dumping of refuse could unleash untold health and environmental disasters of unimaginable magnitude the lives of residents and the society in general.
“It is unhealthy to see accumulation of refuse anywhere as it harbors vectors of diseases and epidemics. In this age as far as environment is concerned, our desire for a clean environment represents a powerful sense of destiny and hope for the future.
“We urge the people of Oyo town to imbibe the culture of clean environment and develop strong aversion for bad attitude like indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage and waterways which usually cause flooding.”
The Commissioner, further, averred that it was increasingly becoming impossible to isolate man from his immediate environment, be it natural or artificial, hence, the act of keeping clean environment should be an act of collective responsibility for the residents of Oyo State.
According to him, citizens must desist from the obnoxious act of indiscriminate dumping of refuse and other unfriendly environmental practices capable to destroying the ecosystem of the State, urging the residents to embrace the culture of proper waste disposal which could to a large extent, reduce environmental risks
“People of Oyo State need to be mindful of their environment , that is what God has given us and we must value it. In a situation where people don’t want to oblige environmental laws and sanitation, we have enforcement agencies empowered by law to impose sanctions on such individuals,” he stressed
In his reaction, the Chairman of Ajegunle Market, Alhaji Moshood Anifalaje expressed profound appreciation on behalf of the traders for the enlightenment campaign. He pledged the support of the market men and women in complying with the environmental laws, standard regulations of the State.
He further assured the Commissioner that the market traders would henceforth, cooperate with waste contractors in ensuring regular, timely and proper evacuation of their wastes
Meanwhile, the Hon. Commissioner held agenda setting meeting with the Heads of Local Government Administrators and Environmental Health Officers of the four local government areas in Oyo federal constituency.
The agenda of the meeting was to harmonize the combined strategies the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the various Local Government areas in curbing environmental menace in Oyo metropolis while also creating effective measures capable of sustaining an environmentally friendly environment.
