••• “We are policing morning and night to stop indiscriminate dumping.”
The Ondo State Waste Management Authority has launched an intensive enforcement operation to arrest and prosecute residents caught dumping refuse on road medians and unauthorized locations across Akure, the state capital.
Chairman of the agency, Mrs. Yinka Alabi, disclosed this in an interview with Roving Reporters on Monday, emphasizing that the agency is determined to end the era of indiscriminate waste disposal in the city.
“We are currently embarking on morning and night policing, apprehending those bringing waste to public places,” she said. “Instead of dumping their waste indiscriminately, residents must now contain their waste in prescribed bins at home.”
Alabi explained that the move is part of an aggressive enforcement campaign designed to instill discipline and promote a culture of cleanliness among residents.
Containerization Campaign Underway
Speaking further, Mrs. Alabi said the Authority has intensified its “containerization” enlightenment drive, urging households and businesses to adopt the use of approved waste bins for temporary storage of refuse before collection.
“Containerization simply means using a dustbin to store your waste properly,” she explained. “We are discouraging the habit of daily generation and daily disposal that leads to fly-tipping and environmental mess. Residents should generate and store their waste for about two to five days until the assigned waste collectors come.”
She revealed that officials of the agency are currently conducting a one-on-one sensitization campaign along major roads, including Arakale and other parts of the state capital, to educate the public on the proper waste storage and disposal schedule.
Clean-Up of Illegal Dumps and Dumpsite Rehabilitation
According to Alabi, the agency is also clearing several illegal dumps across Akure, including Ade Super Area, Shasha–Igoba/Ado junction, Oke Ogba, Oba-Ile/Airport Road, and Ondo NTA Road.
She added that the government, with the support of Private Sector Participants (PSPs), has completed a massive clean-up and rehabilitation of the Aponmu dumpsite, ensuring smoother waste disposal operations.
“The dumpsite is now accessible and free. Trucks can now enter and exit easily without getting stuck in the mud, as used to happen before. This has greatly improved waste evacuation in the city,” she noted.
General Cleanliness Above 70 Percent
Assessing the overall environmental situation, Mrs. Alabi said the cleanliness level of Akure has significantly improved due to consistent monitoring and the new enforcement measures.
“We have not achieved 100 percent yet — even cities like Lagos have not. But by our assessment, we are far above 70 percent,” she said. “This is a continuous effort because waste generation is a daily activity.”
She commended the cooperation of residents and the commitment of the state government toward maintaining a cleaner, healthier environment for all.
