The Ondo State Government has assured residents of Akure and environs of its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the environment and protecting public health, following renewed reports of offensive odour in some parts of the state capital on Thursday night.
In a statement, the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Tob Loko, Ph.D., said the government acted swiftly on the directive of His Excellency, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, to escalate monitoring and containment efforts across affected areas.
According to the Commissioner, the recurrence of the offensive odour prompted an immediate activation of enhanced surveillance protocols.
“On the directive of His Excellency, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the Ondo State Government has stepped up surveillance and deployed additional advanced monitoring technology and safeguard devices to strengthen our ongoing efforts to identify the source and mitigate the impact,” Hon. Loko stated.
He confirmed that as of Friday morning, the state capital remains under *active surveillance*, with a *specialized technical team fully deployed in the field* to conduct air quality assessments, environmental sampling, and community engagement.
The Commissioner appealed to residents to cooperate with government officials who may be encountered in their localities in the course of the ongoing exercise.
“We solicit the cooperation, understanding, and support of the good people of Akure and Ondo State in general. If you encounter our officials in your area, please provide any useful information, particularly regarding unusual or suspicious activities that may assist our investigation,” he said.
Dr. Loko emphasized that environmental protection is a collective responsibility and urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any environmental infractions to the Ministry of Environment.
Reaffirming the administration’s stance, the Commissioner noted that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa remains deeply committed to ensuring that residents of Ondo State live in a clean, healthy, safe, and sustainable environment.
“The Governor has zero tolerance for any activity that threatens public health or degrades our environment. We will get to the root of this matter, establish the facts through scientific investigation, and take decisive action in accordance with the law,” Hon. Loko assured.
The Ministry of Environment reiterated that it is working in collaboration with relevant agencies to ensure a swift resolution of the challenge and to prevent future occurrences.
The government thanked residents for their continued cooperation and understanding and promised to keep the public duly updated as investigations progress.
