The Ekiti State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has shut down a popular eatery in Ado Ekiti after finding it in breach of sanitation rules. The action forms part of a broader enforcement drive aimed at curbing foul odours and pollution in the state capital.
Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources Mrs Tosin Aluko‑Ajisafe led a team that inspected sites around the Federal Polytechnic Satellite Campus junction and other neighbourhoods. During the visit, officials discovered that the restaurant was using an underground septic tank to store waste, then discharging it into nearby drainage channels after dark. The practice, officials said, poses a serious risk of environmental contamination and contributes to the lingering odour that has been reported by residents.
In addition to the sealed eatery, another food outlet in the area received a strong reprimand for operating under unsanitary conditions. The proprietor was instructed to bring the premises up to required health standards immediately or face further penalties.
Mrs Aluko‑Ajisafe warned that the state will pursue strict enforcement against any business or individual who engages in indiscriminate waste disposal or other activities that jeopardise public health. “We will not hesitate to apply the law where environmental laws are violated,” she said.
The inspection tour also included a visit to a local gas plant, after which the commissioner stopped at Oja Bisi Market. There she urged traders to keep the market clean, avoid blocking walkways with merchandise, and report any suspicious activities that could lead to air or water pollution.
Ekiti’s government says the latest actions are part of an ongoing commitment to monitor, enforce, and reform environmental sanitation across the state. Authorities are calling on residents to cooperate with enforcement agencies and allow legal processes to address offenders.
The crackdown reflects a growing emphasis on environmental health in Nigeria’s urban centres, where rapid development often outpaces waste‑management capacity. Continued vigilance and community participation will be crucial to sustaining a cleaner, healthier environment in Ado Ekiti and beyond.
