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In a bold and decisive move, Hon. Olorunpoto Cephas Rahaman, representing Oyo East/Oyo West Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, has spearheaded a critical motion aimed at addressing the worsening environmental crisis in his constituency.
Yesterday, on the 10th of October 2023, during the plenary session presided over by the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, Hon. Olorunpoto Rahaman moved a motion titled “URGENT NEED FOR OYO STATE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT TO ENSURE CLEANUP OF SOLID WASTE IN OYO EAST AND OYO WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS TO AVOID FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, BLOCKAGE OF DRAINAGES, AND OUTBREAK OF DISEASES.”
The motion, which was unanimously accepted, highlights the dire situation of solid waste management in Oyo East and Oyo West Local Government Areas and its severe consequences on the environment and public health.
Hon. Rahaman emphasized the importance of proper waste management, stressing that it encompasses the systematic collection, treatment, and safe disposal of waste to protect human and animal life and the environment. He warned that the ongoing indiscriminate disposal of solid waste has led to environmental pollution, drainage blockages, road damage, and the potential outbreak of diseases in the region.
One of the major concerns raised in the motion is that waste compactors owned by Oyo East and Oyo West Local Governments are currently servicing other local governments, leaving the residents of Oyo grappling with unsightly heaps of waste.
The absence of a landfill or dumpsite in Oyo further exacerbates the situation.
The seconder of the motion, Hon. Gbenga Oyekola representing Atiba State Constituency noted that the consultant in charge of waste management in Oyo State, Montanai, has questions to answer. He emphasized the poor conditions of dumpsites across the State and how that has hindered the process of proper Waste Management in the State.
In another reaction, Hon. Olatunde Kehinde who represents Akinyele Constituency 2 mentioned that the Consultant does not have the capabilities to solely manage the waste in Oyo State. He wanted to know where the consultant derived authority to impound waste trucks of other PSPs and the authority to stop private waste management providers from working.
Hon. Rahaman’s motion includes several resolutions, urging the Oyo State Ministry of Environment to investigate why waste compactors are operating outside their jurisdiction, ensure immediate solid waste packaging and a sustainable waste management system, establish a local dumpsite, and conduct public awareness campaigns to discourage unsafe waste disposal practices.
