Improve water collection before enforcing penalties — Group to Osun govt

The Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun has urged the state government to enhance waste collection services before implementing penalties for improper refuse disposal. The network condemned the alleged arrest of residents, a ₦50,000 fine, public parades of offenders, and the dissemination of arrest videos on social media. They emphasized that the existing waste management system was insufficient to enforce environmental regulations effectively.

The organization supported clean and healthy environments but insisted that residents need functional waste disposal services before facing punishment. The group highlighted concerns over Private Sector Participation waste collection operators visiting communities infrequently, limiting proper refuse disposal opportunities. They called for a comprehensive waste management system with collection schedules, disposal points, and shared responsibilities among the government, private operators, and residents.

The network warned that enforcing regulations without alternatives might lead to illegal refuse burning or disposal in drainage channels, exacerbating air pollution, flooding, and health issues. They questioned the legality of the ₦50,000 fine and demanded an explanation from the Osun Waste Management Agency. The group also demanded an end to the inhumane treatment of offenders and the violation of their dignity through social media recordings.

They urged authorities to reintroduce monthly environmental sanitation exercises and strengthen weekly market sanitation efforts. The network stressed that waste management could create jobs, attract investment, and generate revenue, urging the government to develop a clean environment policy through engagement with civil society, experts, and private operators.

They maintained that effective enforcement should follow the provision of adequate services, making compliance possible before enforcing the law fairly.