Stricter Penalties for Environmental Offenders in Oyo State: N110,000 Fine or One Month of Community Service
Environmental offenders in Oyo State are facing stricter penalties, with the imposition of a fine of N110,000 or one month of community service. This announcement was made by the State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, during the 2024 maiden monitoring exercise conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation Special Task Force, which resulted in the arrest of over 19 offenders across various areas in the state.
Mr. Mogbonjubola emphasized that the Ministry’s environmental task force will now engage in weekly exercises to curb the indiscriminate dumping of refuse. These task forces will be strategically stationed in key areas to enforce the law effectively, particularly targeting the practice of dumping refuse on road medians.
According to the Commissioner, the enforcement of these penalties is part of the State’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring a clean environment. He expressed concern about the increasing challenges posed by indiscriminate refuse dumping, especially during festive periods, and stressed that such actions will no longer be tolerated.
The announcement of these stricter measures has sparked discussions about the effectiveness of the penalties in deterring environmental offences. While some commend the State’s efforts to maintain environmental cleanliness and order, others question the practicality of the fines and community service as effective deterrents.
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