••• Say Environment Commissioner’s Visit yields No Results
Residents of Jerusalem Avenue, Ifelodun Community, located around Kajola off Oda Road in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, have renewed their desperate call on the state government to intervene urgently over what they describe as a worsening environmental and public health crisis caused by an illegally operated commercial poultry farm situated within their residential neighbourhood.
For several months, landlords and tenants in the area have endured persistent and unbearable stench, continuous crowing and machinery noise, and massive swarms of flies emanating from the farm.
The situation, according to them, has gone beyond discomfort and has now entered the realm of serious health danger.
More alarming is the alleged contamination of wells within the neighbourhood, which serve as major sources of drinking and domestic water for many households.
Residents attribute this to the indiscriminate disposal of poultry waste and untreated effluents within the premises of the farm, allowing pollutants to seep into the surrounding soil and underground water.
Government Visitation Without Action
The crisis first received formal government attention when a family living in the next compound to the poultry farm submitted a petition to the Ondo State Ministry of Environment.
This prompted a visit to the area by the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko over a month ago.
During the inspection, eyewitnesses confirmed that the Commissioner demanded the poultry operator present valid operational documents and evidence of approval from a certified veterinary surgeon.
The farm owner reportedly admitted that he had no such approval, confirming that the business was being run illegally within a purely residential zone.
Recounting the incident, Madam Abike, a resident of the community, told our correspondent:
“The day the Commissioner came, all of us stood there. He asked the poultry owner to present his operating documents or any approval from a veterinary surgeon. The man said he didn’t have any. That means he is operating illegally in a residential zone.”
According to residents, ministry officials returned a few days later for a follow-up assessment.
However, since that second visit, no enforcement action, closure notice or compliance directive has been implemented, leaving the community feeling abandoned and betrayed.
“After the Commissioner came, ministry officials returned a few days later to look around again. But since then, nothing has happened. Instead of improving, the odour keeps getting worse, the flies have multiplied, and the noise continues day and night,” Madam Abike lamented.
Allegations of Impunity and Bribery Culture
Residents further alleged that the wife of the poultry owner, who is said to be a civil servant, repeatedly boasts that no one can shut down the farm.
According to them, she reportedly claims that government officials would merely “visit, collect something and go,” a statement the residents view as disturbing, offensive and suggestive of institutional compromise.
This alleged attitude has further deepened fears that the matter may be buried through influence or corruption, while ordinary citizens continue to suffer environmental degradation and potential disease outbreaks.
On-the-Spot Findings
Our correspondent visited Jerusalem Avenue following a trending SOS post on Facebook that drew public attention to the situation.
The stench around the poultry facility was immediately overwhelming, with visible heaps of poorly managed waste, stagnant water, and thick clusters of flies hovering around the surroundings. The situation painted a clear picture of environmental neglect and regulatory failure.
Efforts to reach the poultry owner proved unsuccessful, as workers on site informed our reporter that he was not available for comment.
Community Appeals to Governor
The distressed residents are now appealing directly to Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to intervene personally and compel relevant authorities to enforce existing environmental and urban planning laws.
“We don’t want to wait until cholera or another disease spreads before action is taken,” Madam Abike stressed. “We are pleading with the government to enforce the law. The poultry farm has no approval, and it is putting our lives at risk.”
The residents insist that their demand is not targeted harassment but a legitimate call for protection of their health, sanitation and right to a safe environment, warning that continued delay could result in irreversible consequences.
They maintain that immediate closure or relocation of the poultry farm, alongside proper environmental sanitation measures, remains the only sustainable solution to what they describe as a looming public health disaster.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Loko were unsuccessful as he didn’t reply to the WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile phone over the issue.
