Ademola Adegbite
A group, EnviroNews Advocacy and Campaigns for Sustainability, on Friday, petitioned the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over impending danger posed by the transformation of the Ogunpa River Channelization into the waste dump and encroachment on its setback.
In a petition titled, “Urgent Need To Address Transformation Of Ogunpa River Channelization Into A Waste Dump And Encroachment Into Allowable Setbacks,” the group also called on the state government to take decisive action without further delay to avoid impeding diseases.
Addressing journalists in Ibadan, the state capital, on Friday, the group’s Executive Director, Michael Simire, lamented that many of his interactions with government officials showed that the government was either uninterested or could not address the situation.
He explained that the group was left with no other option than legal action to compel authorities to take up their responsibility, serve the people and save the environment, adding that “our lawyers have since commenced action in that regard.
Simire said, “Government should put an urgent end to all illegal dumping of refuse in Ogunpa River Channel, and also put in place measures to ensure that the ugly incident never remerges in future.
“Government should halt all encroachment of setbacks in the channelization and that all temporary and permanent structures erected on existing setbacks be immediately demolished and owners of such properties made to face consequences of their action.
“We demand that measures should be immediately put in place via a collaboration involving the State Government, Federal Government and World Bank to complete the Ogunpa River Channelization project so as to achieve the ultimate aim of the project such that the attendant incidences become a thing of the past.
“We are concerned citizens, all we want is the best for our state and our dear country, what we seek is for the betterment of the people, protection of people and the environment is sacrosanct,” he stressed.
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