ABEOKUTA, Ogun State — The Ogun State Government has ruled out the reintroduction of the former monthly environmental sanitation exercise, saying it will instead continue with daily sanitation and strengthen waste collection and disposal across the state.
Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed the government’s position during the commissioning of waste management equipment, operational vehicles and an office block in Abeokuta. The event also marked the first six months in office of the Special Adviser and Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), Farouk Adeniyi Akintunde.
Represented at the event by the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ola Oresanya, Abiodun said Ogun had moved beyond the practice of shutting down economic and social activities for several hours each month for environmental sanitation.
According to the governor, the state has promoted daily environmental sanitation over the past six years, making a designated monthly sanitation day unnecessary.
He said the government would rather strengthen OGWAMA’s capacity to collect and properly dispose of waste generated by households, commercial outlets and industrial facilities in collaboration with accredited Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators. More equipment for waste management
Abiodun said the government would provide additional compactors and other waste-management equipment to improve OGWAMA’s operations.
The governor explained that the investment was intended to address some of the challenges associated with the former monthly sanitation system, particularly delays in waste collection and disposal after the exercise.
He said the additional equipment would enable the state to maintain more regular waste collection rather than depend on a single designated sanitation day each month. Residents urged to maintain clean surroundings
The governor also commended residents, Community Development Associations, owners of commercial outlets and captains of industry for their cooperation in maintaining a clean environment.
The government’s current approach therefore places emphasis on daily environmental sanitation by residents alongside regular waste collection and disposal by relevant government agencies and accredited operators, rather than returning to the previous monthly shutdown model.
The state government also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the Ministry of Environment and its agencies, including the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) and OGWAMA, to improve environmental services across the state.