Ogun State has issued a strong appeal to its residents and visitors, urging them to embrace a clean, healthy, and safe environment throughout the ongoing Christmas and New Year festivities. Mr. Ola Oresanya, the Commissioner for Environment, delivered this charge in a statement on Wednesday, emphasising the government’s commitment to ensuring a conducive atmosphere for all during the Yuletide season. The directive comes as the state anticipates a significant increase in social and commercial activities across its urban and rural areas.
Commissioner Oresanya extended Yuletide greetings to all Christians and residents, while simultaneously stressing the paramount importance of cleanliness as a collective watchword. He called on individuals to actively maintain the tidiness of their immediate surroundings and to properly store their household waste in covered containers. This measure is crucial for facilitating efficient collection by the state’s accredited Waste Private Sector Participant (PSP) Operators, who are pivotal to the overall waste management strategy.
In anticipation of the festive surge in waste generation, the Ogun State government has mandated PSP Operators to operate round-the-clock throughout the entire holiday period. This sustained effort aims to ensure timely and effective waste collection from all assigned areas, mitigating the environmental challenges often associated with increased consumption and celebratory activities. The comprehensive approach underscores the state’s proactive stance on public health and sanitation during critical periods.
Beyond the PSP network, the government has also deployed its full complement of waste management equipment and environmental officials across various parts of the state. These resources are specifically allocated to complement the efforts of the PSP operators as part of “Special End-Of-The-Year Duties.” This multi-pronged strategy is designed to guarantee the maintenance of a clean environment statewide, assuring residents of the government’s unwavering readiness to uphold sanitation standards.
The Commissioner further advised traders, particularly those operating in markets and supermarkets, to conduct their businesses within clean, safe, and healthy environments. With a projected increase in trading activities, maintaining hygiene in commercial hubs becomes even more critical to prevent the spread of diseases and ensure public well-being. This directive aims to balance economic activity with essential public health considerations.
A stern warning was also issued against street trading, with Commissioner Oresanya highlighting that environmental marshals would be actively on duty to enforce peace and order across all public areas. This enforcement targets “emergency traders” who illegally display livestock and other goods on roadsides, medians, or from vehicle booths, thereby obstructing traffic and diminishing the aesthetic appeal of the state. The government views such activities as detrimental to urban planning and public safety.
Offenders caught engaging in illegal street trading face severe penalties, including the seizure of their goods and mandatory community service. This stringent approach is intended to deter unauthorized commercial activities that destroy the aesthetic beauty of the state and disrupt public thoroughfares. The state government reiterates its commitment to relocating such traders to designated markets, promoting organised commerce over illicit roadside ventures.
In a separate but equally important advisory, drivers were urged to exercise utmost caution on the roads to prevent avoidable accidents during the festive season. This warning is particularly pertinent as street sweepers will be actively working across state roads to maintain cleanliness, requiring heightened vigilance from motorists. Road safety remains a critical concern amidst increased traffic volumes.
Furthermore, carnival organisers received a clear directive to refrain from blocking any state roads for their celebrations. Ogun State’s environmental laws explicitly prohibit the obstruction of public thoroughfares for parties and carnivals, underscoring the importance of maintaining unimpeded access for all citizens and emergency services. The state emphasizes adherence to regulations that ensure public order and convenience.
The Ogun State government reaffirms its dedication to fostering a clean, safe, and aesthetically pleasing environment for all its citizens, not just during the festive period but year-round. The success of these initiatives, however, hinges significantly on the active cooperation and compliance of residents, traders, and visitors alike. Collaborative efforts are essential to achieve and sustain the desired environmental standards across the state.
