Oyo State Government has begun fumigation of dumpsites in the state in a bid to eliminate communicable diseases within the neighbourhood and epidemic in the State.
This was jointly revealed today by the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Abiodun Oni and the Managing Director,its Waste Management Consultant, Mottainai Recycling, Mr. Ade Adewuyi in Ibadan.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abiodun Oni stated that the fumigation exercise, which started on Saturday at Lapite dumpsite, would be extended to other dumpsites across the State, to protect immediate and surrounding communities where the sites are situated.
The Commissioner, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Modupe Adeleye appealed to residents to shun all practices capable of having a negative impact on the environment.
“The fumigation exercise plays an important role in the waste management chain. This will help us attain a cleaner and safer environment. It is no doubt that dumpsites are prime breeding sites for communicable diseases, vectors such as rodents, Mosquitoes and houseflies which tend to exacerbate the prevalence of waterborne diseases such as typhoid, cholera among others”, he said.
Consequently, the commissioner reiterated that in its bid to primarily achieve a sustainable solid waste management, residents should also perform their civic responsibility through prompt payment for their waste disposal and also desist from dumping wastes indiscriminately in unauthorized areas.
The Commissioner therefore expressed the State Government’s commitment towards protecting public health, and minimizing the discomfort which might be caused by the dumpsites to neighbouring communities.
Also speaking, Mr. Adewuyi said the exercise will make the sites safer for waste management operations, and reduce health risks to the communities where they are located.
He said the dumpsites which play crucial roles in the new waste management chain, need proper disinfection in order to attain the State Government’s vision of establishing a cleaner environment.
“This is the right way to go, in sanitizing our environment. Our main goal is to protect the public, and minimize the negative impacts of these sites to the neighbouring communities”, he said.
He said, “Dumpsites are a crucial component for the delivery of Solid Waste Management, as they serve as the final destination for all solid waste collected from residences, businesses and public spaces.”
