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The Oyo State Government has sealed the Premier Hotel, one of the hotels owned by Oodua Group of Companies situated at Mokola hill in Ibadan, the state capital. The decision was taken as a punitive measure for violating the environmental sanitation laws of the state. The government also sanctioned an event centre located at Eleyele area of the state capital.

The premises was sealed off when the Honourable Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Abiodun Oni who led the enforcement team to the place during the week . Also in the team were the Coordinating Director of the Ministry, Mr. Rogba Adedigba, Director Environmental Health Services, the Environmental Task Force, Amotekun Corps and Environmental Health Officers.

He said the action became necessary so as to put an end to environmental nuisance in the state.

The Commissioner who was appalled by the attitude of the management of Premier Hotel for accumulating heaps of wastes within their premises, wondered why the management failed to co-operate with the designated authorised waste collector, despite the 7-days ultimatum given to them to evacuate their wastes

“It is disheartening that despite efforts of this administration to provide an enabling and sustainable environment to residents, people still go ahead violating the environmental laws of the state whereas a filthy environment poses threats to individual’s lives in the state. When sickness comes, it knows no boundaries”, the Commissioner added.

The Premier hotel and the event centre were not the only violators sanctioned by the government. Also affected awere over 80 shops, which were sealed off at Sango market for non-compliance with environmental sanitation laws. The erring operators at the market were indicted for indiscriminate dumping of wastes on the road median, accommodating a filthy drainage at the frontage of their shops and non-compliance with the authorised waste collector. In the case of the event centre, it was sealed off for patronizing illegal waste collector.

Mr. Oni further emphasized that the enforcement will continue to take place until people understand the need to take care of our environment.

“As citizens, proper waste disposal is a way of exercising their responsibilities as well as giving concrete support to the government as such, putting an end to the scourge of filthy environment” The Commissioner added.

Meanwhile the team also visited Gbaremu market and Adelabu Complex at Challenge to sensitize the traders on the importance of a clean, safe and healthy environment while also giving them stern warning to comply with the environmental sanitation laws to avoid sanctions from the state government.

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