14 buildings sealed over environmental concerns in Kwara

The Kwara Government has sealed off 14 buildings due to environmental concerns.

The state’s Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Musa-Buge, confirmed the development yesterday, stating that the buildings were sealed off because of their dirty environment, which was believed to have a negative impact on society.

“This is necessary to reiterate the government’s commitment to sustaining a hygienic and safe environment,” she said.

Musa-Buge explained that the buildings in these residential areas violated the state’s environmental laws, and sealing them off was necessary to prevent an outbreak of cholera and other related diseases.

She affirmed the state’s current administration’s commitment to sustaining a clean, hygienic, and safe environment for the people of Kwara and potential investors.

“It is no longer news that Environmental Health Officers across the 16 local councils have started the enforcement of environmental laws, especially through house-to-house inspection of toilet facilities to sustain the healthy living of residents. This development has started yielding positive results,” the Commissioner said.

Musa-Buge said that despite the ministry’s continued advocacy on the need to stop open defecation and build standard toilets, some houses still expose human excreta to the environment through their defective soak-aways.

“But this act is dangerous to the living conditions of residents of the areas,” she said.

The Commissioner assured members of the public that continuous house-to-house inspections will be conducted across the state to ascertain the level of compliance and enforce environmental laws.

She charged Kwara residents to cooperate with the state’s present administration in its efforts to promote a clean and safe environment that is habitable for all residents.

The Commissioner also urged landlords to build standard toilet facilities in their respective houses, warning that anyone found wanting would be prosecuted accordingly.

On Wednesday, Kwara government officials sealed off eight buildings at Sabo-Oke in the Ilorin South Local Councils of the state.

The environmental health officers also sealed off six buildings at Onikun-Kewu Street in the Adabata Area of Ilorin last week.