Commissioner Warns Against Violation Of Environmental Laws In Kwara
Kwara State Government has warned that it will no longer handle violation of environmental laws with kid glove, as mobile courts will soon commence sitting at Ilorin Central Market (Oja Oba).
The State Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Musa Buge, issued this warning over the weekend, during a meeting with the management and staff of the Ministry, at its GRA Headquarters, Ilorin, the State Capital.
“We shall reactivate our Mobile Courts with immediate effect and ensure that people who violate environmental laws, by dumping refuse indiscriminately, breeching the road rules by trading at illegal locations like walkways, road medians and main roads shall be brought to book.” She stressed further.
“In this vein, we shall ensure that Mobile courts begin to sit at strategic locations in the metropolis, especially Ilorin Central Market (Oja-Oba), where law enforcement agents ensures compliance with relevant guidelines, to eliminate road encroachment.
“In addition, Environmental Health Officers have been detailed to join the team and work in conjunction with security agencies, to apprehend violators and sanction them accordingly. The Magistrate will also be on ground to determine relevant cases, so that those incapable of paying fine, will have the option of spending some time in the correctional centres with their wares confiscated.” The Commissioner added.
Buge stressed further that “Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led administration has done the needful by investing resources into infrastructural rehabilitation, to enhance a decent environment for us to live and earn our livelihood. Therefore, residents who are in doubt about the status of their premises should contact Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW – GIS) in order to to obtain necessary and relevant documents of their property.”
She seized the opportunity to inform the public on flood alerts received from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), warning them against indiscriminate dumping of waste in water ways, drainage channels and road medians, to avert flooding and sustain rainfall as a divine blessings.
