Osun Govt Threatens Roadside Refuse Dumpers With ₦50,000 Fine, Public Parade

The Osun State Government has warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roads, declaring that offenders will face a ₦50,000 fine, be made to clean the affected environment and be publicly paraded on social media.

The state government said the measures were part of efforts to tackle improper waste disposal and maintain a clean and healthy environment across the state.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, disclosed this on Saturday during a programme on the state-owned radio station. He also serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Special Task Force on Environment.

Adejoorin expressed concern over the growing practice of dumping refuse on roads, particularly at night, despite the availability of proper waste disposal channels.

He said the government had continued to evacuate illegally dumped refuse to prevent the state from becoming dirty but stressed that residents must take responsibility for proper waste management.

“Instead of getting a waste bin and engaging waste collection companies, residents have resorted to dumping their refuse on the road. They usually do this at night, and the state government has been clearing the waste because we do not want the state to become dirty,” the commissioner said.

He warned that the government would no longer tolerate the practice, adding that the task force had been empowered to apprehend anyone caught violating environmental regulations, regardless of their status.

Also speaking during the programme, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs and member of the Osun Environment Committee, Muniru Raji, said market traders had been cautioned against dumping refuse along roadsides.

Raji disclosed that market leaders from Igbona, Orisunmibare, Sabo, Ota-Efun, Kobongbogboe, Oke-Fia, Alekuwodo, Sasa, Oke Baale, Olu Ode, Station Road and Owode-Ede markets had been invited to a sensitisation meeting on proper waste disposal.

He urged traders, particularly those operating along major roads, to comply with environmental guidelines and ensure that their waste was disposed of through approved channels.

The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, reiterated the government’s position, warning that anyone caught dumping refuse on the road would be compelled to retrieve the waste, sweep the affected area and pay a ₦50,000 fine.

Alimi added that offenders would also be paraded on social media as part of measures to discourage others from engaging in indiscriminate waste disposal.

The state government urged residents, traders and market associations to cooperate with the authorities, stressing that maintaining a clean environment required collective responsibility.