The Edo State Government has announced plans to enforce existing environmental sanitation laws more strictly, as part of efforts to improve cleanliness and public health across the state.
Officials from the Edo State Ministry of Environment disclosed that the renewed enforcement will focus on illegal waste disposal, blocked drainage systems, and poor sanitation practices in urban and semi-urban areas, particularly within Benin City and its environs.
According to the ministry, task force teams will be deployed to monitor compliance, while offenders risk fines and other penalties as provided by law. The government says the move is necessary to address recurring flooding and sanitation-related health challenges.
Residents have expressed mixed reactions, with some welcoming the initiative and others calling for improved waste collection services to complement enforcement.
The state government urged residents to cooperate, noting that environmental responsibility is a collective effort.
