Oyo demolishes shops over environmental nuisance

For violating the environmental law on building regulations Oyo State government has demolished five shops and relaxation centres.

The state also sealed a filling station at Orita Challenge in Ibadan for accommodating a filthy drainage lane which environmental officers alleged exposed residents to varying degrees of environmental hazards.

According to the director of engineering and beautification, ministry of environment and water resources, Moshood Adeola who led the enforcement team, government would not relent in enforcing the best environmental culture in the people for the sake of good living.

“The refusal of the shop owners to vacate the premises, being a setback led to this demolition. Despite the abatement notices served on them for more than six

months to vacate the premises, they continued their illegal activities which constitute environmental nuisance; they did not yield and we have to come and pull the structures down.

“Their offenses range from noise and air pollution, evidence of open defecation, accommodating illicit drug users within the environment and that is why those shops were pulled down.”

He said despite the effort of the state government in maintaining a suitable and sustainable environment for all and sundry, some people were still engaged in street trading and non adherence to environmental laws.

“This administration will not renounce its stance on zero tolerance for environmental disorderliness,” said Adeola.

He warned those violating environmental laws or constituting nuisance to the environment to desist from the act or be prepared to face the law.