- as govt recovers 5,170kg plastic wastes, 1,100 kg of cartons
Oyo state Government, today, sealed off some houses and shops within Academy Market, Ibadan over unhygienic practices.
Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Abiodun Oni, said residents and owners of the shop violated environmental laws and failed to comply with the laid down hygienic practices.
Speaking through the Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Ademola Aderinto, the commissioner said that the buildings were sealed off during the ongoing sensitisation and enforcement campaign of the state government to commemorate this year’s World Clean-up Day.
These were contained in a statement by the commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun.
According to the statement, Oni said the exercise was done to ensure total compliance with environmental hygiene and prevent possible outbreak of any disease, pointing out that environmental health officers had earlier visited the affected buildings and told the owners to do the needful but they failed to do so.
He said the affected buildings are responsible for heaps of waste dumped in the market place and along the main roads, adding that they do not have adequate waste bins for their wastes.
Also, as part of activities marking this year’s World Clean-up Day, the state government and Mottainai Recycling Ltd, recovered 5, 170 kilograms of plastic wastes in the clean-up activities carried out in Academy community market in Ibadan. The team also recovered 1,100 kilograms of cartons from the market.
According to Aderinto, the exercise, which was carried out in conjunction with the was also used to sensitise and educate market women on how a waste-free environment can foster better customer relations and increase sales.
He also appealed to residents to key into the state government’s environmental blueprint.
“Marketplaces are by nature unkempt with practices that are harmful to the ecosystem, but Oyo State Government believes that with continuous sensitisation and enforcement, we can make the traders understand the importance of a neat location for business,” Aderinto said.
Speaking on the campaign, Managing Director, Mottainai Recycling Ltd, Mr. Adey Adewuyi explained that the initiative was borne out of the need to ensure that Oyo State is clean.
He spoke through the company’s chief sustainability Officer, Ms. Deborah Fadeyi, stressing: “We are commemorating the World Clean-up Day in a very unconventional way, with the market people.
“We are here to show them how waste can be turned to wealth.”
She said the company as government’s approved waste manager will ensure adequate provision of necessary information on environmental sanitation in the state.
Also speaking on the campaign, the chief operating officer, Ms. Oluwaseun Fashukanmi explained that besides drawing attention of the public to the immense financial opportunities of waste recycling, the public also needs to be aware of the threats of waste and pollution to human life and the survival of the ecosystem.