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No fewer thank 60 persons have been fined by the Oyo State Environmental Tribunal Court for flouting the state’s environmental sanitation laws during the week. exercise along Bodija, Iwo-road, Beere, Sapati, Elewi-Odo, Ojoo, Gate, Oke-bola, and few other areas in Ibadan.
In his judgement, the Magistrate, Mr. Raheem Wasiu, found the offenders guilty for dumping refuse in unauthorised areas, thereby violating the state’s environmental sanitation and waste management laws.
The offenders, who were arrested in areas like Bodija, Iwo-road, Beere, Sapati, Elewi-Odo, Ojoo, Gate, Oke Bola, among others were fined between ₦5000 and ₦25,000 depending on the degree of their offences. Three of the offenders opted for community service.
Reacting to the judgement, the Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Abiodun Oni, commended the Magistrate for his professionalism, adding that the Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration will not leave any stone unturned towards regaining the environmental sanity of the state.
“No matter how we take care of our environment, it usually has an impact on every stakeholder’s health and as soon as we enforce the law, it goes a long way in making the state a healthy one. Oyo State is the pacesetter state, a state we should be proud of and strife in making it safe and healthy for all and sundry,” Oni said.
Also, the Chairman, Environmental Task Force, ACP Francis Ojomo, emphasised that the task force was working on the basis of existing laws on environment in Oyo State and anyone who contravene the laws would be apprehended and brought before the court.
He noted that as responsible citizens, nobody should be above the laws in the state and the country at large, adding that whoever that does not obey the laws bears the consequences.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Abiodun Abdu–Raheem and his counterpart from Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Kafilat Olayiwola, have visited the Primary, Secondary and Vocational section of the Oyo State Special Basic School , Ogbomoso, to ascertain the standard of living and needs of the special students.
The visitation follows a viral video where some of the students are protesting poor feeding, diversion of food items by the management of the school.
Abdu-Raheem, after a series of findings disclosed that the claim by the students on poor feeding could not be substantiated.
He, however, urged the cooks to be more professional in their duties, assuring the students of Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment towards improving and promoting conducive learning environment in the state.
He enjoined the staff to work towards reshaping the students for better and avoiding whatever can make the students have a negative impression of them.
Abdu-Raheem also warned the workers not to allow themselves to be used as agents of disunity but work according to their conscience.