In preparation for the raining season, Environmental Sanitation Marshalls employed by the Osun State government commenced work across the State.
The cadets, numbered about 150, who were deployed to Osogbo metropolis, were sighted clearing of road sides, channels, canals and waterways within the city.
Speaking with InsightMedia, the Director of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Ministry of Environment, Mr Wale Akala said the scheme was recently flagged off by the government and it’s aimed at ensuring that all nooks and crannies of Osun State are clean.
He said the environmental marshalls are in every ward across the State, while some were specially recruited to clean the State capital.
Akala said the environmental sanitation marshall will be working everyday and will “also be responding to emergencies when needed. Like to quickly move to where channels are blocked and through it.
“This program is just to make Osun look clean. You know, in the past, we had OYES cadets who did go around to clean the streets. But in this dispensation, we deemed fit to have a scheme which will continuously be in charge of environmental sanitation in our state. So this scheme is to make Osun clean. And we are starting in Osogbo, the state capital, this month.”
When asked about preparedness of the State ahead of the rainy season, Akala said the Ministry and the State government at large are putting everything in place to ensure no drainage is blocked, while streams and rivers across the state are being dredged to prevent flooding.
He said, “You know, when these refuse block the drainage, when the environment is bushing and the rainy system comes in, eventually we are waiting for flood. So that is why the scheme is established through the approval of the Governor, through our able Commissioner, Mayowa Adejorin and this is not only thing we are doing concerning the commencement of the rainy season, the department of Flood and Engineering Services has started dredging of the main waterways in the state too. So it is in two ways, we in the environmental health and sanitation are on the streets packing all the refuses.
“The works ministry have also done their parts. In all we have put all mechanisms in place.” He said.
Osun government called on residents of the state to partner with the government by ensuring that refuse is disposed accordingly using the services of the PSP.
