The Oyo State Government has arrested 55 people in Ibadan for allegedly violating environmental laws during August 2026.
The offenders were apprehended by Environmental Vanguards attached to the Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources as part of intensified efforts to enforce environmental regulations across the state.
Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, disclosed the development, according to a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, on Thursday and made available to journalists in Ibadan.
Aderinto said the 55 offenders were arrested for various environmental infractions and subsequently prosecuted and convicted in accordance with the law.
He said the enforcement drive was aimed at improving compliance with environmental regulations and maintaining a clean, healthy and habitable environment across Oyo State.
The commissioner warned residents, business owners and other stakeholders against activities capable of degrading the environment, stressing that the government would continue to enforce relevant environmental laws.
“Environmental laws must be obeyed by all,” Aderinto said.
He specifically reiterated the prohibition of open dumping and the disposal of refuse on road medians across the state.
According to him, residents and businesses are required to dispose of their waste through accredited waste contractors, with refuse collected directly from the source under the waste management system approved by the state government.
Aderinto also called on members of the public to support the government’s environmental enforcement efforts by complying with existing regulations and adopting proper waste disposal practices.
He urged residents to report environmental violations promptly to the appropriate authorities to enable relevant agencies to take necessary action.
The commissioner said the August arrests formed part of the ministry’s broader monitoring and enforcement activities, indicating that the state government would continue to strengthen measures aimed at preventing environmental degradation.
The government’s renewed enforcement comes amid efforts to ensure that public spaces, roads and other parts of Ibadan and the wider state are kept free from indiscriminate waste disposal and other activities considered harmful to the environment.
