The Osun State Government has inaugurated a Special Task Force on Environmental Sanitation as part of efforts to strengthen enforcement of environmental laws and maintain a clean, healthy and habitable environment across the state.

The development comes days after the Abia State Government arrested 86 sanitation defaulters during its monthly environmental sanitation exercise, highlighting renewed enforcement efforts by state governments against indiscriminate waste disposal and other environmental violations.

In Osun, the Special Task Force is chaired by the Head of Service, Mr Samuel Ayanleye Aina, with the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon. Mayowa Adejoorin, serving as deputy chairman.

According to a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the task force is mandated to tackle environmental infractions across the state, particularly the indiscriminate disposal of waste in drains, on roadsides and other locations capable of constituting environmental nuisances.

The government expressed concern over the increasing practice of littering public spaces, including road medians, with dirt and debris, warning that such practices could create serious environmental hazards.

The task force has been directed to ensure that enforcement activities are carried out diligently and in accordance with the law. The government also warned that offenders found culpable of violating the state's environmental laws would be prosecuted.

Members of the task force have equally been urged to adhere to due process while carrying out their responsibilities.

Other members include the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi; Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs, Alhaji Muniru Raji; General Manager of the Osun State Waste Management Agency (OWMA), Mr Oyewole Fatai Oladosu; and Mr K.K. Oyelami.

The Osun Amotekun Corps Commander, Hon. Omoyele Isaac Adekunle; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs) Ayobola Fadeyi Awolowo; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Mrs Eniola Omotoso, are also members.

The task force is expected to commence operations immediately.

Abia Steps Up Enforcement

In Abia State, the government on Saturday, September 26, arrested 86 sanitation defaulters during its monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Umuahia and Aba.

Punch Newspapers reported that 71 people were arrested in the Umuahia area, while 24 were later discharged on health grounds or because they were students. Six people were directed to perform community service.

In Aba, the Sanitary Mobile Court sitting in Obingwa Local Government Area tried 15 defaulters. Four were discharged on health grounds, while the remaining offenders were penalised under the state's environmental laws.

The Abia Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna, warned residents against dumping refuse in drainages and waterways, linking blocked drainage channels caused by indiscriminate waste disposal to recent flooding in parts of the state.

He said the government, through the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency and other relevant agencies, was working to keep drainage channels open but warned that residents who continued to dump waste in waterways would face the law.

The Abia government had earlier announced that movement would be restricted during the three-hour September sanitation exercise and warned that defaulters would be arrested and prosecuted under the Abia State Basic Environmental Law.

The developments in Osun and Abia reflect the continuing efforts by state governments to strengthen environmental enforcement, particularly against indiscriminate waste disposal, blocked drainage channels and other practices capable of undermining public health and environmental safety.