The Oyo State Government has sealed several residential and commercial complexes across Ibadan for engaging illegal waste collectors, violating environmental regulations, and failing to register with approved Private Sector Participants (PSP) operators.
The enforcement exercise was carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources following a directive from Governor Seyi Makinde to maintain a clean, healthy, and business-friendly environment across the state.
Speaking during an inspection tour, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Ademola Aderinto, said the action was necessary to promote public health, environmental responsibility, and sustainable development. “Our mandate is clear: to keep Oyo State clean, protect public health, and create an environment that supports productivity and investment,” he said.
The inspection team visited Bodija, Sango, Eleyele, and Ologuneru areas of Ibadan, where several facilities were found without waste disposal containers, unregistered with accredited PSP operators, or openly using illegal waste collectors.
Hon. Aderinto expressed concern that some facility owners were collaborating with unlicensed collectors who dump refuse indiscriminately in open spaces rather than approved landfill sites, posing serious environmental and public health risks.
“These illegal collectors charge cheap fees and dump waste in unauthorized locations. This will no longer be tolerated. Anything that undermines the image of Oyo State or the efforts of this administration will be firmly resisted,” he warned.
The Commissioner further cautioned illegal waste collectors to desist immediately and urged residents and facility managers experiencing challenges with PSP operators to report to the Ministry or the Oyo State Solid Waste Management Authority for prompt intervention. He revealed that some PSP operators were disengaged the same day for colluding to violate waste management regulations.
Aderinto added that strict sanctions would continue against any operator found culpable, emphasizing that environmental laws in Oyo State must be obeyed to protect public health, promote cleanliness, and ensure sustainable development.
