A group, EnviroNews Advocacy and Campaigns for Sustainability (ENDVOCAS), has petitioned Governor Seyi Makinde over the imminent dangers posed by the transformation of the Ogunpa River Channel into a waste dump and the ongoing encroachment into its setback areas.
In a petition titled “Urgent Need to Address the Transformation of Ogunpa River Channel into a Waste Dump, and Encroachment into Allowable Setbacks”, the group alleged that government officials have failed to take appropriate action to address the growing environmental hazard.
Speaking with newsmen in Ibadan, Michael Simire, Executive Director of ENDVOCAS, expressed concern over the lack of government action on the issue. “In my many interactions with government officials, it is clear that the government is either uninterested or lacks the capacity to tackle this pressing situation,” he said.
Simire stated that, after exhausting other avenues, the group has now been forced to consider legal action to compel the authorities to fulfill their responsibilities, serve the people, and protect the environment. “Our lawyers have already initiated proceedings in this regard,” he added.
The group is calling for urgent intervention from the government to end the illegal dumping of refuse into the Ogunpa River Channel and to implement measures to prevent a recurrence of this environmental crisis.
Simire further emphasized that the government must halt all encroachments into the river’s setbacks and take immediate action to demolish all temporary and permanent structures built on these protected areas. Property owners should also be held accountable, he stated.
“We demand that immediate measures be put in place through collaboration between the Oyo State government, the federal government, and the World Bank to complete the Ogunpa River Channelization project. This will help achieve the ultimate goal of the project and prevent future incidents of illegal dumping and encroachment,” Simire said.
He concluded by reaffirming the group’s commitment to the well-being of the community and the environment. “As concerned citizens, all we want is the best for our state and country. Our goal is the betterment of the people, and the protection of both the people and the environment is sacrosanct.”