Ekiti govt urges calm on reported offensive odour, harps on environmental safety

The Ekiti State Government has called for calm and assured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring the safety and well-being of the people.

The State Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement on Sunday, said the state government had continued coordinated investigations, inspections and surveillance across locations where reports of an obnoxious odour had been received, as part of efforts to address any environmental nuisance associated with the situation.

The government’s spokesman said that, following reports from residents, the state government commenced coordinated investigative activities across affected locations while engaging relevant institutions and experts to review the situation, share information and determine practical measures for tracing the source of the odour.

According to him, “the surveillance and inspection exercises have so far identified activities capable of contributing to environmental nuisance and foul odours, including indiscriminate sewage disposal, poor waste management practices and the discharge of decomposed materials into public channels.”

He said appropriate enforcement measures had been taken against identified offenders, including prosecution, sealing of affected premises, clearing of environmental nuisances and fumigation of affected areas, in order to curtail activities capable of generating or worsening the odour.

Olatunbosun said the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources had also undertaken air and gas analysis as part of the ongoing efforts to obtain scientific information that could assist in identifying the nature and possible source of the reported odour.

The commissioner assured residents that the situation was being closely monitored and that the government “is working with relevant agencies and experts to ensure that the matter is properly investigated and appropriate measures taken to normalise the situation.”

He urged residents to remain calm and avoid speculation or the circulation of unverified information, stressing that such actions could cause unnecessary panic and undue escalation of the situation.

Olatunbosun also appealed to residents who may have useful information to promptly contact the appropriate authorities, particularly the State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, through the dedicated telephone number 08145571085.

Reiterating the commitment of the Biodun Oyebanji-led administration to protecting the environment and ensuring a clean, safe and healthy environment for all residents of the state, he assured the people that the government would continue its coordinated investigation and take all necessary measures to address any environmental or public health concerns in the state.