No fewer than 40 persons were arrested in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Saturday for violating the environmental sanitation law in the state.
Also impounded during the monthly sanitation exercise were 50 vehicles and 75 motorcycles.
The enforcement team, led by the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Abdulateef Oyeleke, included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Bashir Olanrewaju; Chairman, Environmental Task Force, Francis Ojomo; Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Ademola Aderinto; Director, Environmental Health Services and the security operatives in the state.
In an address at the Bodija Secretariat Road in Ibadan during the sanitation exercise, the Commissioner described the attitude of residents as worrisome, saying engaging in businesses during sanitation exercise is a criminal.
Stressing the importance of guiding against the scourge of filthy environment, he said the adoption of a clean and green initiative to rid the state of epidemic could not be overemphasised.
Oyeleke said, “Today being the last Saturday of the month, people are expected to observe the monthly sanitation exercise by taking care of their surroundings, it is a nationwide exercise whereby each state adopts their own policy.
“Here in Oyo State, the exercise is between the hours of 6:00am and 9:00am and of course, there is restrictions of vehicular as human movement and anyone found on the road not on an essential service would be made to face the law as appropriate sanction would be given for disobeying the law of the land.
“This is to let the people know that nobody is above the law of the land and people should be made to be a respecter of the law of the land, those apprehended will serve as deterrent to others that might want to do same next time.”
Oyeleke, however, appealed to citizens to take the exercise as a matter of obligation in order to make the state safer and healthier for people to live in and for smooth conduct of their commercial activities.