EKITI TO OBSERVE AUGUST ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION EXERCISE

The Ekiti State Government has announced that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise for August will hold on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. across all Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

The state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Erelu Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti.

She said the theme of the exercise is: "Clean Environment, Healthy Air: Say No to Obnoxious Odour."

According to her, the theme draws attention to the need for proper waste disposal and good environmental practices to prevent offensive odours and protect public health.

Aluko-Ajisafe urged residents to participate actively by cleaning their surroundings, drains and waste disposal areas.

"Residents should take environmental sanitation seriously. We have received complaints about obnoxious odour in some areas, and everyone has a role to play in keeping the environment clean and free from conditions that can affect public health," she said.

The commissioner reminded residents that movement would be restricted during the three-hour exercise, except for those on essential duties.

She added that market women were expected to clean their shops and surroundings on Thursday, while government workers would clean their offices on Friday, ahead of Saturday's main exercise.

Aluko-Ajisafe said Environmental Health Officers from the ministry, LGAs, LCDAs, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and security agencies would monitor compliance.

She urged residents to dispose of refuse and wastewater properly and to report activities that could cause environmental pollution or obnoxious odour to the appropriate authorities.