Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved a compulsory two-hour weekly environmental sanitation exercise across the state, beginning on Thursday.
The approval was announced in a statement by the Head of Service and Chairman of the newly constituted Osun State Environmental Sanitation Task Force, Samuel Aina.
According to the statement obtained in Osogbo on Thursday, offices, market operators, shop owners, artisans, malls, stores and other business operators are required to be physically present during the exercise.
The sanitation exercise will take place every Thursday between 8am and 10am.
Aina said law enforcement agents would be deployed to support the task force and ensure compliance with the directive. However, he clarified that their role would not include arresting residents.
The statement read: “Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has given immediate approval for the commencement of a two-hour weekly environmental sanitation exercise, beginning from this Thursday throughout the state.
“All offices, market operators, shop owners, artisans, malls, stores, business premises owners, among others, are, by this official directive, expected to be physically present during the scheduled time of the compulsory environmental sanitation.
“Law enforcement agents will be made available during the sanitation exercise to complement the efforts, but they are not to arrest anybody but to enforce compliance.”
Aina said the initiative was designed to tackle indiscriminate refuse disposal and other violations of environmental regulations, with the aim of preventing disease outbreaks and maintaining cleanliness across the state.
He urged residents and business operators to cooperate with the authorities to ensure the success of the exercise.
