Kwara State has officially inaugurated a 300 member environmental taskforce designed to support and monitor compliance with new environmental strategies aimed at achieving a “Clean and Green Kwara.” The taskforce was launched to address and mitigate the environmental challenges faced by the state, including indiscriminate waste disposal.
At the inauguration ceremony, Hajia Nafisat Buge, the Commissioner for Environment, highlighted the severe health risks posed by improper refuse dumping. She stressed the urgent need for proactive measures to tackle this issue and improve the state’s environmental conditions.
Hajia Buge outlined the new regulations under the adopted strategies. It is now illegal to dump refuse into water channels, on roadsides, or to display wares on drainages. To improve traffic flow and sanitation, public waste bins previously placed by the roadsides will be relocated, and households will be required to pay a monthly fee to one of the thirty-eight waste collectors engaged by the state. Additionally, registered scavengers will be restricted to operating exclusively at the state’s dumpsite in Sokoto-Aiyekale.
Violators of the new regulations face severe penalties, including fines of fifty thousand naira for individuals, one hundred thousand naira for shop owners, and a minimum of two hundred and fifty thousand naira for corporate organizations. Offenders may also face up to six months in jail or community service.
Hajia Buge emphasized the importance of educating residents about the negative effects of improper waste disposal to gain their support for the government’s efforts to eliminate environmental pollution. She assured the public that waste bins would be emptied every twenty-four hours to maintain cleanliness.
Addressing concerns about open defecation, the Commissioner announced plans for the construction of additional public toilets in areas of need and the expansion of drainages to mitigate flooding issues.
The newly inaugurated environmental taskforce will operate around the clock and includes officials from the State Ministry of Environment, community volunteers, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps members, and local vigilante groups. This comprehensive approach is expected to significantly enhance the state’s environmental management and sustainability efforts.