The Oyo State Waste Management Task Force has commenced the placement of abatement notices on the premises of companies and industries and homes without waste bins, across the state.
In a statement released on Monday, April 3, 2023, and made available to EnviroNews on Tuesday, April 4, the Chairman of the Oyo State Waste Management Task Force, Mrs. Aderonke Adedayo, emphasised the importance of waste bins in companies and homes for promoting a clean and healthy environment.
She added that the recent move is part of the Oyo State Government’s measures aimed at ensuring proper waste management and environmental hygiene in the Pacesetter State.
Mrs. Adedayo also stated that bins help to prevent littering and indiscriminate dumping of refuse on streets.
She called on landlords and property owners to provide waste bins for their properties and to ensure compliance with the waste management laws in the State.
She said: “The Task Force will ensure proper waste management in the state, because it is very crucial to the well-being of residents. The use of waste bins is a must in Oyo State, as this will help us prevent the spread of diseases.’’
She added that the sanctions embedded in the waste management laws for not having waste bins will be rigorously applied.
Managing Director, Mottainai Recycling Ltd, Mr. Adey Adewuyi, added that the Oyo State Government would commence placement of abatement notice on residential properties by April 17, 2023.
He warned that placement of the notices on business and residential properties is in lieu of the forthcoming enforcement of the use of waste bins by businesses and residents across the state.
Adewuyi added the Mottainai would work with relevant agencies such as the Task Force, Environmental officers to ensure compliance.
He therefore urged residents to embrace the use of waste bins and make it a habit to dispose their waste in a responsible manner. He said: “We are working tirelessly to ensure a cleaner Oyo State. Mottainai is working with the Oyo State Environmental Task force and other relevant agencies, to ensure a cleaner Oyo State. They will also help in enforcement of the use of waste bins across the state. Recall that we have sensitised community leaders, Market leaders and other relevant agencies in the State to ensure compliance with the policy.’’
In a related development, the Oyo State Government says it has commenced training for its officers on Early Warning Signs, as part of the efforts to combat flooding in the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Abiodun Oni, made this known on Tuesday at the training in Ibadan, the state capital.
Oni said that the Early Warning Systems would go a long way in reducing risks from the disaster.
According to him, the Early Warning System is a coordinated system of warning that will alert people in flood prone areas of the impending danger, six hours before any flooding disaster.
Oni said that this would allow them to evacuate their families in order to put an end to loss associated with flooding.
The commissioner also said that the coordinated system known as the Early Warning System (EWS), “is a technologically-driven effort that involves monitoring of water level remotely”.
He said this could be done by using wired sensor network to ensure that people living in flood-prone communities receive appropriate warning within the suitable time interval to take effective action to save lives and minimise loss of properties.
“It is not enough for an early warning system to correctly identify an incoming hazard, it must also ensure that residents that are at risk receive the alert, understand it, and most importantly, act on it.
“With the climate change, the weather has become more unpredictable and unable to rely on traditional and indigenous knowledge in our decision-making,” Oni said.
Also, Mr Akande Lukman, the Hydrolic Specialist, Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), regretted that about 12 years ago, the state experienced flooding, which destroyed many properties and lives.
Lukman said that consequently, the state received assistance from the World Bank and an Early Warning System was put in place as part of the measures to forestall future occurrence of flood in the state.
He said that the state government engaged the services of IRMSI, a Consultant Firm from India, to design an Early Warning System with a master plan for 20 years.
Akande added that the system would give a 72-hour notice to detect heavy rainfall, which might lead to flooding within Ibadan.
“The training also ensured consistent Early Warning System information and sensitisation to residents,” he said.
