IBADAN, NIGERIA — The Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has apprehended 55 environmental offenders in Ibadan for various infractions, reiterating its commitment to enforcing environmental laws and promoting a clean, healthy, and habitable environment across the state .
The arrests were carried out by the Ministry’s Environmental Vanguards during an intensified monitoring and enforcement drive in August 2026. According to a statement released on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the offenders were prosecuted and convicted in accordance with the state’s environmental regulations .
Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Ademola Aderinto, disclosed that the development was part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with environmental regulations . He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening environmental enforcement and warned residents, business owners, and other stakeholders against activities capable of degrading the environment .
Aderinto stressed that open dumping and the disposal of refuse on road medians are strictly prohibited in Oyo State, adding that all forms of refuse disposal must be carried out through accredited waste contractors directly from the source, in line with the state government’s approved waste management system . He further urged members of the public to support the government’s efforts by complying with environmental regulations, adopting proper waste disposal practices, and promptly reporting environmental infractions to the appropriate authorities .
The arrests come amid a broader push by the Oyo State Government to strengthen environmental governance. The government recently commenced the enforcement of a mandatory house-to-house waste collection policy, requiring all residential and commercial buildings to provide designated waste bins and engage only government-accredited Private Sector Participants for waste evacuation . Buildings found without the required bins are served abatement notices and given a 48-hour grace period to comply, with defaulting premises facing possible closure .
The enforcement actions are part of Governor Seyi Makinde’s broader vision for a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Oyo State, aligning with the state’s roadmap for sustainable development . The government has also collaborated with security agencies to clear Ibadan streets of destitutes and beggars, citing environmental and public order concerns . Additionally, illegal metal scavengers have been prosecuted, and a food processing facility was sealed in Ibadan due to excessive carbon soot emissions .
