Dirtiest State Capital: Osun Govt Faults TAG’s Report

The Osun State Government has faulted the report of a civil society organisation, Transparency Action Group (TAG), rating Osogbo, the state capital as the dirtiest state capital in the country.

The government declared that Osun remains one of the cleanest states in Nigeria.

Osun Defender had last Friday reported that TAG in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ayo Ologun noted that the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration had since assumption of office paid less attention to the beautification of the city, allowing it to be taken over by dirt.

The Special Adviser on Environment and Sanitation, Hon Babatunde Adeniyi Balogun said the report was a deliberate attempt to rubbish the good work of the Governor.

Hon. Balogun who reiterated the commitment of Governor Adeleke’s administration to deal with the numerous challenges posed by environmental degradation in the state noted that “with all sense of responsibility, entire Osun 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 1000 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 of an action Governor? This is barbaric and we are condemning and rejecting such write-up and we are warning them to desist from such act”.

Hon Balogun stated that Governor Adeleke is keen towards creating a conducive and clean environment for the entire citizens of the state.

According to Hon Balogun, “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.

“I hereby want the group or writer to do a proper investigation as professional in his field and not tarnish the image and work of others to get cheap political interest,” the statement concluded.