The Kwara State Government, through the Ministry of Environment, has announced new strategies to tackle the menace of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the state.
Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Nafisat Musa Buge, made this known during a media engagement at the Ministry’s conference hall, Ilorin, stating that indiscriminate dumping of refuse is a general phenomenon that requires urgent attention.
She listed some of the new strategies to include;
It is illegal to dump refuse on road medians, road dividers, roundabouts, gutters, drainage channels, and waterways.
Anybody caught displaying wares/goods beyond the gutter on the roadside for trading activities will be penalized.
The Ministry, with immediate effect, will remove the larger roll-roll (waste) bins from the roadside or roundabouts and place them in secure locations where they will not impede vehicular movement.
Waste bins have been placed at different collection points for proper disposal of refuse, which will be transported to the final dump site.
* We have also put in place a well-organized system to evacuate refuse from collection points within 24 hours.
Scavenging is no longer allowed in the metropolis. All previously registered scavengers are advised to conduct their business at the government dump site at Sokoto-Aiyekale off the Expressway.
We have engaged 38 Commercial Waste Consultants and allocated them to different communities to collect refuse. Members of the public are expected to pay a monthly token or dump their refuse in government mobile collection vans/vehicles whenever they come to their community.
The Ministry will provide medium-sized “Waste Collection bins” for shop owners and households for proper disposal of refuse.
The Commissioner equally emphasized the importance of public cooperation and support in achieving a cleaner and healthier environment.
The ministry also inaugurated its 300 Task Force officers to enforce compliance with the new strategies. And enable the general public to cooperate with the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in its bid to eradicate indiscriminate dumping of refuse and encroachment on roads for the sustenance of a cleaner and better Kwara
IEDPU PRO, Alhaji Nuru also commended the initiative of the govt while pledging support for its success. He said the Union has also commenced community sensitization to ensure smooth implementation.
