The Oyo State Government has introduced a daily environmental sanitation monitoring and enforcement system as part of efforts to promote a cleaner and healthier environment.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, disclosed this during a press briefing held at the ministry’s conference room to mark his first 100 days in office.
Aderinto said the state had moved away from the traditional monthly sanitation exercise to a more proactive approach that encourages residents to maintain cleanliness on a daily basis. He noted that the new system is backed by continuous monitoring and enforcement by environmental health officers.
“We are now enforcing daily environmental sanitation. Our officers are on the field every day to ensure compliance, and cleanliness must become a daily responsibility,” he said.
To strengthen the initiative, the commissioner revealed that the ministry had re-engaged 930 environmental vanguards, sweepers, and waste packers, and procured two new compactor trucks with the support of Governor Seyi Makinde to improve waste evacuation.
He added that the environmental workforce had been strategically structured to enhance enforcement and sanitation coverage across the state, with sweepers expected to operate twice daily to keep roads clean. The workers, he said, would also benefit from enrolment in the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme.
As part of efforts to boost community participation, the ministry launched the Oyo Soro Soke (Oyo SSS) Environmental Whistleblower platform, accessible via mobile applications and WhatsApp, to enable residents report environmental violations.
Aderinto further disclosed that the ministry had introduced a waste segregation system across government offices and initiated public-private partnerships for the construction of modern public toilets.
He also highlighted improved public communication through regular advisories on issues such as flooding, heatwaves, cholera, and Lassa fever, alongside efforts to regulate charcoal production, promote tree planting, and end open defecation through increased inspections and environmental monitoring.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde, members of the State Executive Council, and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Sunday Ojelabi, for their support.
“The future of our environment in Oyo State is bright. What we have achieved in 100 days is only the beginning,” he said.
