As the rainy season approaches, the Kwara State Government has reiterated its warning to residents against the indiscriminate disposal of waste in waterways, drainage systems, and road medians. This measure aims to sustain ongoing efforts to prevent flooding and curb potential disease outbreaks across the state.

Hajia Nafisat Musa Buge, Commissioner for Environment, issued the caution during an inspection of government-designated refuse collection points equipped with "Roro-bins" for public waste disposal. Accompanied by environmental health officers, she toured key locations in Ilorin metropolis to assess compliance and infrastructure readiness.

Addressing journalists after the inspection, Hajia Buge emphasised Kwara's reputation as one of Nigeria's cleanest states: “Kwara has consistently ranked high for maintaining a clean, orderly environment. We must all work diligently to uphold this standard for the health and safety of every resident.”

The Commissioner urged communities to utilise approved disposal methods and report illegal dumping, stressing that collective responsibility is critical to mitigating seasonal flooding risks.

The Commissioner also commended the use of the “Roro-bin” points for refuse disposal, rather than the old practice of placing waste on road medians, and charged the evacuating team to double their efforts to ensure prompt evacuation to the government-approved dump site at Sokoto-Aiyekale on a daily basis.

Buge further instructed officers and the environmental taskforce team not to hesitate in apprehending offenders and sanctioning them in full compliance with the law.

She noted that “it is important to desist from dumping refuse in water channels, gutters, drainage channels, and rivers to avert flooding as we move actively into the rainy season.”

At Oja-Oba, the Commissioner frowned at the level of road encroachment and disregard for safety by traders who displayed their wares on the newly constructed parts of the main road.

She pleaded with the traders and advised them to move their wares and utilize their respective shops within the market area, because the present administration, under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, will no longer tolerate the encroachment of roads and other infrastructure put in place for public use.

Hajia Buge further called for concerted efforts to sustain a cleaner, safer, and more aesthetically pleasing environment that will promote healthy living in the state.

The Commissioner and her entourage, who combed the metropolis through Taiwo Road, Geri-Alimi/Sawmill area, Airport, Baboko, Oja-Oba, and the Old Yidi Road/Gegele, to assess compliance, also inspected relevant government facilities for waste management.

The team also visited the indigenous Ilorin communities of Adeta, Pakata, Kuntu, Amule, Alore, and Olufadi areas to check the river channels in order to evaluate the extent of blockage caused by waste dumped indiscriminately along the channels