Oyo Govt Warns Against Indiscriminate Dumping, Illegal Building on Water way, as Clean-Up Begins on Theophilus Akinyele Way

…As Govt seals illegal structures, urges residents to support Gov. Seyi Makinde’s environmental reforms

Oyo State Government has issued a stern warning to residents engaging in indiscriminate waste disposal, bush burning, burning of refuse, dumping of waste in drainages, placing construction materials on roads, building structures on water-ways, declaring that violators will face strict enforcement measures.

Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Engr. Ademola Aderinto, gave the warning during the flag-off of a 10-day environmental clean-up and sanitization exercise along the 12.5-kilometre Theophilus Akinyele Way in Kuola, Ibadan.

Aderinto condemned the practice of dumping refuse in drainages and on road medians, burning waste, and placing construction materials on government roads, describing such acts as destructive to public infrastructure and harmful to environmental health.

He also warned against erecting buildings on waterways and road setbacks, stressing that such illegal structures contribute to flooding and environmental degradation.

The Commissioner disclosed that enforcement actions have already commenced, with some properties sealed pending verification of building permits.

“Government cannot continue to spend millions of naira yearly evacuating waste that should not have been dumped indiscriminately in the first place. These resources should be used for developmental projects,” he said.

The Commissioner added that security agencies across the state, including Amotekun, the Nigeria Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have been integrated into the Oyo Soro-Soke-Sita (Oyo SSS) whistleblower platform to track and prosecute environmental offenders.

He warned that residents who persist in violating environmental laws risk arrest and prosecution.

The warning came as the Ministry officially flagged off a major clean-up operation sponsored by the family of the late Theophilus Akinyele, a former Secretary to the Oyo State Government.

The family partnered with the state government to rehabilitate and sanitize the road named after their patriarch.

According to Aderinto, the exercise will involve desilting of drainage channels, clearing of medians, removal of accumulated waste, and washing of the entire stretch of the road to restore it to acceptable environmental standards.

He explained that the family mobilized heavy equipment sourced locally and internationally, as well as manual labour, to ensure the thorough execution of the project.

The Commissioner emphasized that governance should be a shared responsibility between government and citizens, urging other concerned individuals and families to support environmental initiatives across Oyo State.

He called on residents of Theophilus Akinyele Way and the wider public to patronize government-accredited waste collectors and desist from illegal dumping practices.

Aderinto reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration to improving the environmental image of the state, noting that compliance from residents remains crucial to sustaining progress.

He encouraged citizens to take ownership of environmental protection efforts and work collectively with government to build a cleaner, safer, and more investor-friendly Oyo State.

In his remarks, one of the son the late patriarch, Akinkunmi Akinyele, described the ongoing clean-up of the 12.5-kilometre Theophilus Akinyele Way in Ibadan as a corporate social responsibility initiative by the Akinyele family in honour of their patriarch.

He noted that the exercise coincided with what would have been his father’s 94th birthday, adding that the late administrator served as Secretary to the Military Government of Oyo State and Head of Service from 1976.

Akinkunmi explained that the family embarked on the environmental intervention to support the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde and to preserve the legacy of excellence associated with their father, after whom the road was named.

He said the family, including children and grandchildren, felt a responsibility to ensure the roadway remains clean and properly maintained, stressing that the initiative would not be a one-off effort.

He further advised residents of Oyo State to complement government’s efforts by fulfilling their civic responsibilities, including paying taxes, keeping their surroundings clean, and refraining from acts that constitute environmental or public nuisance.

According to him, development cannot be left to government alone, as citizens must also play their part. He described the project as the family’s way of giving back to Ibadan, noting that the city has been good to them over the years.

Dignitaries at the event are the Chairman Oyo State Solid Waste Agency Hon. Waheed Adeniyi, The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Sunday Ojelabi, The Director of Environmental and health services, Mrs Areo and others