By Dipo Olowookere
Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in Oyo State, Mr Toye Arulogun, has disclosed that Ibadan, the state capital, is no longer the dirtiest city in Nigeria.
He said the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi has worked very hard to change this negative title that has plagued the state for a long time.
Speaking on Thursday, the Commissioner said Ibadan was now clean thanks to the various initiatives the Governor came up with to ensure the largest city in West Africa becomes a clean city.
“We are confident to say Ibadan is no longer the dirtiest city in Nigeria, a title which no city should aspire to hold. The strides we have made in Ibadan have been replicated across other cities and towns in Oyo State and we know that there is much more to be done,” Mr Arulogun said.
He said the revamped Oyo State Waste Management Authority (OYOWMA) has taken over the responsibility of waste collection in the state in line with its commitment to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment.
The Commissioner urged citizens, groups, civil societies and communities to partner with the government to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment, noting that the concerted efforts of all and sundry will continue make Oyo State a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing environment.
According to him, “we want to continue to keep Oyo State clean as part of our investment friendly strategy and improvement of the quality of the lives of our people, create the much needed jobs for our youths, eradicate diseases and vermin caused by indiscriminate disposal of waste.
Mr Arulogun called on residents and business owners within the state to dispose wastes in waste bins and stop disposing on the roads, urging that they should ensure that their waste bins are made available for collection by OYOWMA, and also pay the government for the services when due.
Recall in January 2008, the then Minister of Urban Development, Mrs Halima Tayo Alao, described Ibadan and Aba as the dirtiest cities in Nigeria at a workshop in Ibadan.
She had expressed her displeasure over the environmental sanitation status of Ibadan, believed to be the biggest city in West Africa. Mrs Alao said despite the huge amount government spent on the channelization of Ogunpa River, Ibadan and Aba still remained the dirtiest cities.
