UNEP Report: Osun Govt Insists State is Cleanest, Calls for a Reinvestigation

Osun State Government on Sunday reacted to a report credited to United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and Clean-Up Nigeria which rated Osun State as the dirtiest state in the country.

The state government faulted the claim, declaring that, Osun State remains one of the cleanest states in Nigeria today.

The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Hon Babatunde Adeniyi Balogun in his response to the claim on behalf of the state government, disclosed this in a press statement made available to Journalists in Osogbo, describing the claim as a ruse, baseless and barbaric saying it was a deliberate attempt to destroy the good work of the performing Governor Ademola Adeleke.

Hon Balogun who reiterated the complete commitment by Governor Adeleke’s led administration in Osun in dealing with the numerous challenges posed by environmental degradation in the state noted that “with all sense of responsibility, entire Osun State today remains one of the cleanest states in the country as both the state capital and major cities in the state are always kept clean daily by the sweepers, parkers as well as PSP operators.

“We have some large trucks functioning well with small trucks packing over 2000 tonnes of waste to our various dump sites every day for effective management. So, how could a group gather false statements to tarnish the good work and image of such a Governor like Ademola Adeleke? This is uncalled for, barbaric and we are rejecting such a write-up while we are warning them to desist from such act”.

Hon Balogun emphasised that Governor Adeleke already declared zero tolerance for bad environment in the state and he is keen towards creating a conducive and clean environment for the entire citizens of the state.

According to the Special Adviser, “On the issues of waste collection, there was no day that our trucks will not collect refuse, even no holiday as every day is a working day for the officials in charge.

“Similarly, the insecurity in the country does not warrant 5 am collection as before for the safety of our workers but now, our work starts by 6.30 am and if the group is knowledgeable enough, they should know that by 1 pm of each day, the whole city roads are clean.

“Mr Governor is working assiduously on innovations that will assist the environment and sanitation sector development and also ensure that the state shines amongst its equal.

“That is why we are always charging the entire residents of the state to take concrete actions towards ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment as a way of assisting the government.

“So it is on this note that I am on behalf of the Osun State Government want the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to do a proper investigation as professional and not tarnish the image and work of others to get cheap political interest.

“We have many agencies in the state that saddled with environmental responsibilities, one of them is Osun Waste Management Agency, OWMA among others” Hon Balogun concluded.