The Ekiti State Government is calling on Traditional Rulers to collaborate with the government in enforcing full compliance of citizens with the monthly Environmental Sanitation exercise.

Emphasizing the significance of the monarchs’ role in implementing Environment Law and other health-promoting policies, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, made this appeal at the palace of Arajaka of Igbara-Odo Ekiti, Oba Edward Jayeola, during a monitoring exercise of the monthly environmental sanitation in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area.

Expressing dismay at the significant turnout of traders at the Oja Oba Market in Igbara-Odo Ekiti around 8.30 am, while the environmental sanitation was ongoing, Afuye decried this act as a blatant violation of the Ekiti State Environmental Sanitation Law.

She urged all monarchs in the state to work alongside local governments in raising awareness among residents about the importance of the monthly sanitation exercise in preventing the outbreak of contagious diseases.

Addressing the monarch, Afuye stated, “Kabiyesi, what I have seen in the market here in Igbara Odo today was wrong and the government of Governor Biodun Oyebanji frowns at such conduct. How can people be selling in the market during environment sanitation exercises in such a large number? Health is wealth and our people must learn how to place high priority on their health and this starts with the maintenance of environmental cleanliness and hygiene.”

Continuing, she appealed for the cooperation of citizens, saying, “This programme is to ensure that our citizens don’t spend money that is meant to develop themselves on opportunistic diseases. If you clean your environment, you are doing yourself a great deal of favour. Our people must be carefully and rightly guided on how to comply with laws. We have nothing to lose if we stay at home between 7-10 am to clean our surroundings.”

In response, Oba Jayeola applauded Governor Oyebanji’s government for its care for the citizens, assuring that such conduct will not be repeated in the next episode of the exercise.

During the Deputy Governor’s visit to Ilawe, the headquarters of the council, she commended the residents for their full compliance with the exercise and for maintaining environmental cleanliness.

She also praised the efforts of the Council Chairman, Richard Apolola, for his mobilization efforts which led to the high level of compliance, encouraging the residents to uphold such ethical standards in the subsequent editions.

Apolola, in turn, assured the government that the high compliance witnessed in Ilawe Ekiti will be replicated in other towns during the next editions.