Oyo Govt Intensifies Clean-Up Campaign at Oja-Oba Market
…As Govt launches sweeping sensitization at Oja-Oba Market to promote hygiene and waste-to-wealth initiatives
…As Market sensitization encourages residents to embrace cleanliness, recycling, and sustainable living
The Oyo State Government has intensified its campaign for a cleaner and healthier environment with a sweeping sensitization exercise held at Oja-Oba Market, Ibadan, in commemoration of the 2025 World Clean-Up Day.
Speaking at the event, the Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni (mni), represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet, Mr. Olusola Ojelabi, said the sensitization was aimed at educating the people of Oja-Oba and residents across the state on the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
She urged traders and residents to cultivate the habit of cleanliness in their homes, markets, and surroundings, stressing that personal and environmental hygiene is essential to good health and sustainable living.
Mrs. Oni emphasized that sweeping and proper waste management help prevent the spread of diseases and promote public health. She appealed to market traders to make good use of the skip bins provided by the government and to ensure that drainages remain free of blockages.
According to her, waste such as plastics, sachet nylons, and used textiles now have economic value across the world, and Oyo State residents must embrace the concept of waste-to-wealth by recycling and reusing such materials. She thereafter declared the sweeping sensitization exercise open, describing it as a step towards improving both public health and environmental sustainability.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Sunday Ojelabi, explained that the exercise was part of the activities marking the 2025 World Clean-Up Day. He said the programme was designed to encourage market men and women to prioritize cleanliness and to instill hygienic practices in their children from an early age.
Dr. Ojelabi noted that Oja-Oba was strategically chosen because of its significance as both a commercial hub and a cultural landmark in Ibadan. He called on market traders to join hands with the government in promoting environmental sanitation and hygiene across the state.
Highlighting the state’s progress in environmental governance, Dr. Ojelabi revealed that Oyo State’s ranking on the Sub-National Climate Governance Index improved from 34th position in 2024 to 7th in 2025 — a feat he attributed to Governor Seyi Makinde’s visionary leadership and commitment to environmental reforms.
“Our target is to rank among the top three cleanest states in Nigeria, and eventually among the cleanest in the world,” he said. “However, achieving this requires the collective effort of every resident. We must stop indiscriminate waste disposal, public urination, open defecation, and burning of refuse, all of which harm our environment and health.”
Market leaders, including the Iyaloja of Bodija Market, Alhaja Sikiratu Adebayo Tantoloun; the Iyaloja of Eleyele Market, Alhaja Ramota; and the representative of the Babaloja-General, Prince Akanni Ojo, commended the state government for its continuous environmental initiatives.
They also urged traders to make cleanliness a daily habit and to explore the economic opportunities in recycling and waste management, noting that “waste has become wealth globally.”
