The Ekiti State Government has stated that it would intensify its sensitisation campaign on the enforcement of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise such that every citizen would ensure the cleanliness of their environment without coercion.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Eniola Ajayi who made this known shortly after monitoring the exercise in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction at the poor compliance of the people with the exercise.
The Commissioner stated that government would improve on its advocacy so that people can be aware of the need to keep their environment clean on daily basis rather than on monthly basis even as she expressed worry at some business areas which are taken over by weeds.
While charging people to refrain from indiscriminate disposal of waste in the drain, Dr Ajayi stated that government had expended a lot to clear the drains yet people continue with the improper act.
While assuring that government will not shirk in providing more amenities that will enhance a cleaner society, the Commissioner disclosed that government would soon take delivery of waste trucks as well as communal waste bins so as to discourage people from disposing waste in public places.
Speaking on the arrest of some defaulters, Ajayi said though Ekiti people are known to be law abiding, the government will not overlook any act that is aimed at flagrantly disrespecting the laws of the land.
“The compliance is not as good as we had expected but we are going to improve on our advocacy so that people will become more aware of the fact that this is not a monthly affair but what they need to imbibe as a culture and keep their environment clean. As a government we are not going to absolve ourselves of the responsibility that we owe our people which is to provide more amenities to ensure the cleaning of their environment is easier for them. We will provide more communal bins and willie bins which we have ordered already and distribute to business areas and communities so that cleaning the environment becomes easier for everybody,” she said.
On the monitoring team which visited Ajilosun, Basiri, Siminloluwa, Atikankan and Ijigbo were the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Tayo Ekundayo, Special Adviser Governor’s office, Chief Biodun Akin Fasae, and Chairman of the State Waste Management Authority (EKWMA) Hon. Adebayo Morakinyo among others.
Last modified: January 25, 2014
