By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A shopping complex in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has been sealed by officials of the state government over poor sanitation and failure to register with an accredited waste contractor.
A statement from the state government disclosed that the popular business facility, located at the Barracks Bus Stop along the Iwo Road axis of Ibadan, was closed on Wednesday after several monitoring and warnings.
According to the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, the action was taken to forestall unwarranted outbreaks of diseases in the area.
He noted that during an inspection exercise, officials of the state government were given the directive to seal the business premises due to the absence of sanitary refuse drums, leading to its regular indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorized places, contrary to the extant environmental laws of the state.
The Commissioner called on residents, shop owners, and corporate bodies to abide by the state environmental regulations to avert sanctions.
In a related development, the Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to intensify measures to tackle flood and erosion, in a bid to safeguard the lives, and property of its citizens.
Speaking during an advocacy and sensitization programme for the 11 local government councils in the Ibadan zone, Mr Mogbonjubola, said the programme was necessary to reawaken the councils, community leaders, youth leaders, and market men and women to their collective roles and build their capacities in achieving a sustainable environment that would foster development and healthy living for the people of Oyo State.
It was gathered that the event, held at Mapo Hall, was organized by the Nigeria Erosion and Watersheds Management Project (OYONEWMAP) and was a follow-up to similar ones held in Saki, Ogbomoso, Eruwa, Oyo, and Iseyin.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Aduragbemi Omiyale