The Ondo State Government has raised the alarm over the illegal discharge of untreated industrial waste into a stream in Akure, warning those responsible to stop the act or face the full weight of the law.
The warning followed complaints from residents of Ijapo Estate, El-Shaddai Residential Estate, Alagbaka and surrounding communities over a persistent sulphuric acid-like smell, especially at night.
The Ministry of Environment said preliminary findings showed that the offensive odour was caused by untreated effluent and other hazardous waste being discharged into a stream running from Ijapo Estate through Edo Lodge and Fiwasaye to the area behind El-Shaddai Residential Estate in Alagbaka.
According to the ministry, the illegal activity has polluted the environment, endangered public health and breached the state’s environmental sanitation and pollution control laws.
To uncover those behind the act, the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Tob Loko, has set up a high-powered investigative team to trace the source of the discharge, gather evidence and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and the environment, stressing that environmental pollution would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Residents were urged to remain calm and report any suspected cases of illegal waste disposal or other environmental violations to the Ministry of Environment for prompt action.
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