Environmental Law Enforcement In Oyo: Uphill Battle For Compliance

By Emmanuel Adeoye

The Deputy Commissioner of Police Francis Yemi Ojomo (Rtd), the current Chairman of the Oyo State Environmental Task Force, has said that the effort to safeguard the environment demands a renewed commitment from the populace to adhere to environmental laws. 

The retired Police officer, appointed in the year 2020, while granting the Treasure Newspaper an interview recently, used the opportunity to address the various challenges confronting the Oyo State Environmental Task Force, thereby emphasizing government’s effort towards the promotion of the consciousness for a full compliance and self-preservation of the environment in the State. 

Ojomo revealed the ongoing struggle for compliance with environmental laws across Ibadan Metropolis and other parts of the state, citing the apprehension and prosecution of over 5000 lawbreakers since 2020. 

He said despite imposing fines and community service, the persistence of those flouting the State’s environmental laws has remained a battle to contend with. 

“In the blink of an eye, those we apprehend today will always reappear another day, thereby brazenly disregarding the environmental laws”.

Ojomo expressing situation, highlighted the recurring defiance, including government officials.

Acknowledging the need for increased manpower, Ojomo emphasized the current team’s composition of 20 vanguards, 15 OPC operatives, 2 Agbekoya members, and 11 police officers, stressing the urgency to decentralize operations to cover all local governments for comprehensive enforcement.

Regarding legal backing, Ojomo reaffirmed reliance on the 2016 Oyo State Environmental Law, which forms the cornerstone of their operational framework, delineating offenses, fines, and judgment criteria.

Confident in the governor’s cognizance of the challenges, Ojomo anticipated forthcoming approvals to bolster the task force’s workforce, addressing crucial needs.

Dispelling misconceptions about culpability, Ojomo broadened the spectrum of environmental offenders beyond market women, citing government officials, corporations, and eateries as significant violators. Despite extensive sensitization efforts, behavioral change remains elusive, reflecting a blatant disregard for fundamental laws.

Ojomo underscored the necessity of discipline and a return to values that prioritize cleanliness for environmental preservation.

Calling for collective responsibility, Ojomo emphasized the reciprocal relationship between environmental care and personal well-being. “Preserving the environment isn’t merely a government gesture; it’s self-beneficial,” he concluded, stressing the indispensable link between a pristine environment and individual health.