Illegal Waste Dumping: 40 People Get Jail Sentences In Kwara

A total of 40 people ,who violated the Kwara state Environmental Law, were given prison sentences  by a Magistrate Court in Ilorin, Kwara state capital,  on Friday.

Each of them got a 3-month sentence.

The defendants, who are residents of Ilorin, were arraigned on different charges ranging from indiscriminate and illegal dumping of waste, encroachment, and illegal scavenging and they all pleaded guilty to the charges.

A statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by Mr Yakub Kamaldeen Aliagan, who is the Press Secretary  of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, noted that Magistrate Saidu Tunde Abdulkareem declared the defendants convicted and awarded them a 3- month sentence each, with an option of fine of N50,000 , in line with the provisions of section 5 subsection 1- 4 of the State Environmental Law.

31 among the defendants faced charges because they engaged in indiscriminate and illegal dumping of waste while 9 were involved in illegal scavenging.

Speaking  on the judgment, the state Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Hon Nafisat Buge, who welcomed the development, said the motive behind the continued  enforcement of the Environmental Law is to curb the outbreak of diseases, flood disaster and other dangers inherent in indiscriminate dumping of waste.

‘The ministry recently inaugurated a task force to arrest individuals caught breaching environmental standards, particularly improper disposal of waste, encroachment, and illegal scavenging.

The task force commenced enforcement on Tuesday, and they made some arrests. We have a Mobile Court here at the ministry that prosecutes them just like what we witnessed today’ she said.

Buge added that the ministry has  been sensitizing the public against such practices.

‘Before now, the state House of Assembly had enacted a law that prohibits scavenging in the Ilorin metropolitan areas. Their activities have been restricted to a government designated dump site around the Sokoto Aiyekale expressway.

For indiscriminate dumping of refuse, we have gone round for physical engagement. We also embarked on media advocacy to sensitize our people on the need to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse because of the danger inherent in such a habit’ the statement added.

The commissioner urged residents of Ilorin to always use the roro bins placed at strategic locations in the metropolitan areas or seek the services of commercial waste collectors, who only charge a token for proper waste management.

She noted that  the exercise will continue as long  as people continue to engage in unlawful dumping of refuse. 

‘We have done a proper assessment of our drainages, and we realized that the majority of these drainages are blocked as a result of improper dumping of refuse. We are disilting them, but we wouldn’t want such an act to continue. That is why we are determined to have a healthier and cleaner environment in the state’ she added-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you