A Magistrate Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced 17 offenders to one month of community service for violating the Ekiti State environmental health and sanitation Laws during last Saturday’s sanitation exercise.
The 17 offenders convicted by Magistrate Olubunmi Bamidele were however given an option of paying N5,000 fine.
Magistrate Bamidele in her ruling stated that the offenders failed to adhere to the state’s environmental sanitation guidelines, stressing that such negligence poses a serious threat to public health and environmental safety.
In the meantime, the state government commended the level of compliance recorded during the January edition of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise across the state.
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The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe gave the commendation while monitoring the sanitation exercise for the month of January in Ado-Ekiti.
She stated that environmental sanitation is a collective responsibility, emphasizing the need for everyone to play their part in maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a sustainable and hygienic environment, warning that violators of sanitation laws would continue to face penalties as part of efforts to enforce compliance.
Aluko-Ajisafe who was represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Tunde Balogun, explained that the enforcement of sanitation laws and regulations is a proactive measure by the state government to prevent disease outbreaks resulting from poor hygiene practices.
She called on community leaders and stakeholders to intensify awareness campaigns on the importance of environmental hygiene and encourage active participation during designated sanitation periods.
The Commissioner reiterated its resolve to sustain the monthly sanitation exercise and ensure that offenders face the full weight of the law to promote a cleaner and healthier environment.
