Osun has been ranked as the sixth dirtiest state in Nigeria.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that this is according to a 2024 report by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and Clean-Up Nigeria.
The report published during the week places Osun sixth among the top ten dirtiest states of the federation behind Abia, Lagos, Kogi, Anambra and Kano.
Nasarawa, Zamfara, Yobe and Ogun states are in the seventh, eight, nine and tenth positions respectively.
According to the global body, the dearth of proper waste management in Osun is contributing a great deal to air pollution.
OSUN DEFENDER also recalls that the administration of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola had in 2013 launched the OโCLEAN initiative with a view to making the state the cleanest in the country, upgrading its aesthetics and green landscape.
The government procured waste lifting vans, waste disposal bins, and introduced a monthly environmental sanitation programme, among others, to protect the environment.
READ: Osun Records Three Child Kidnapping Cases In August
However, successive administrations, as UNEP disclosed, provided proper waste control, but the lack of compliance from the people has continued to make the state dirty.
A civil society organisation, Transparency Action Group (TAG) had in December 2023 rated Osogbo, the state capital as the dirtiest in Nigeria.
TAG in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ayo Ologun noted that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration since its assumption of office paid less attention to the beautification of the city, allowing it to be taken over by dirt.
But the Special Adviser on Environment and Sanitation, Hon Babatunde Balogun said the report was a deliberate attempt to rubbish the good work of the Governor.
Hon. Balogun who reiterated the commitment of Governor Adelekeโs administration to deal with the numerous challenges posed by environmental degradation in the state noted that โwith 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.
โWe 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. โSo, 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-ups and we are warning them to desist from such act.
โOn 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.
โSimilarly, 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.
โMr 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.
โThat 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.
โI hereby want the group or writer to do a proper investigation as professionals in his field and not tarnish the image and work of others to get cheap political interest,โ the statement concluded.
