By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Following a published report dated June 7, 2025, in which residents of Ajebamidele Quarters, Ajilosun area in Ado Ekiti, expressed deep concern over the large volume of refuse abandoned in the area, with no sign of officials from the Ekiti State Waste Management Board for several days, the state government has now responded.
However, when this reporter visited the location, the refuse had already been cleared. When contacted, the Director General of the Ekiti State Waste Management Board, Olasunkanmi Onipede, confirmed that the waste was removed almost immediately the previous day.
According to Onipede, the management and board remain committed to its responsibilities of maintaining a clean and healthy environment. He attributed the offensive smell and the presence of flies in the area to livestock waste, particularly pig dung and dead animals, which were improperly dumped into public waste bins by some livestock farmers.
“We are calling on residents of the Ado Ekiti metropolis to dispose of their waste properly. We discovered that the odour and flies were caused by some pig farmers who dumped livestock waste into bins meant for household refuse. This practice is wrong because animal waste should not be mixed with domestic refuse,” he said.*
The DG further explained that livestock owners are required to register with Private Sector Partnership (PSP) operators accredited by the Ekiti State Waste Management Authority. These operators are responsible for collecting and disposing of livestock waste separately to prevent environmental hazards.
“Pig rearers must understand that they can not dispose of their waste indiscriminately. They should align with PSP operators, register with them, and ensure their livestock waste is handled appropriately without disrupting the community or posing a threat to public health,” Onipede stated.*
He warned that the management and board would not hesitate to sanction any livestock farmer who fails to comply with these regulations.
Onipede also disclosed that the Commissioner for Environment, Chief Mrs. Tosin Aluko Ajisafe reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring proper sanitation across the Ado Ekiti metropolis. She urged homeowners to construct toilets within their compounds to eliminate the practice of indiscriminately dumping human waste in public refuse bins.
Mrs. Aluko further called on the public to stop mixing refuse with faeces and to refrain from dumping dead animals in public bins, as these practices pose serious health risks.
The DG reiterated that while the state government continues to work towards a cleaner environment, residents must also play their part in supporting these efforts. He emphasized that “cleanliness is next to godliness” and urged everyone to cooperate.
In the meantime, although the government has recently procured new waste trucks to improve waste removal across major towns in the state, keeping Ado Ekiti and its surroundings free of abandoned refuse remains a significant challenge.
As Several major streets continue to suffer from neglect, Nonetheless, the government has assured the public that it will intensify efforts to sensitize residents on the dangers of indiscriminate waste disposal.