Cleaner Environment: Ogun replaces fines with community service for waste offenders, bans roadside refuse dumping, shuts noisy worship centres

The Ogun State Government has announced stricter enforcement measures to curb indiscriminate refuse dumping, revealing that offenders will now face arrest and compulsory community service instead of monetary fines.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, made this known while briefing members of the Governor’s Elders Advisory Council during their quarterly meeting at the Obas’ Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Oresanya emphasized that dumping refuse on roads is illegal, noting that streets are not designated dump sites. He reiterated that residents must place their waste in front of their homes for direct collection by Private Sector Participants (PSPs).

According to the Commissioner, the new enforcement model aims to reduce the financial burden on citizens by replacing fines with corrective community service. This approach, he said, will compel offenders to sweep roads and clear refuse as a deterrent to future violations.

“Under no condition should you dump refuse on the road. OGWAMA has the authority to arrest offenders, and those arrested will do community service. We will correct in love—when people see you sweeping the road, they will understand the consequences and avoid the same habit,” he said.

Oresanya also disclosed that Governor Dapo Abiodun has approved the procurement of brand-new waste management trucks for OGWAMA and PSP operators to enhance waste evacuation across the state.

On noise pollution, the Commissioner revealed that several religious centres and facilities violating state noise regulations have been shut. He urged residents to report noise disturbances via the ministry’s dedicated helpline: 09010480056.

He further stressed that sanitation should be a daily activity rather than a once-a-month routine, adding that Section 6 of the Constitution empowers Local Government Health Officers to inspect homes and prosecute households with overflowing waste bins.

The ministry is also intensifying safety inspections of gas plants across the state, with plans to shut down substandard facilities that fail to meet required safety standards.

During the meeting, Chief (Mrs.) Iyabo Apampa commended the ministry’s interventions, especially in Ogijo, and urged further action against growing air pollution and indiscriminate trailer parking around Ibese and Papalanto—areas dominated by cement factories.

Hon. Samuel Olubunmi Dada encouraged Local Government sanitary officers to step up their responsibilities, while urging residents to adopt proper waste disposal habits.

Chairman of the Governor’s Elders Advisory Council, Chief Olu Okuboyejo, praised the state government’s environmental reforms and described Governor Abiodun’s 2026 “Budget of Sustainable Legacy” as a strategic roadmap for a more prosperous Ogun State.