The Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun has called on the state government to improve waste collection services before enforcing penalties against residents over improper refuse disposal.
The group also condemned the reported indiscriminate arrest of residents, the alleged imposition of a ₦50,000 fine, the public parade of alleged offenders and the circulation of arrest videos on social media.
In a press statement issued on Friday and signed by its convener, Olowu Emmanuel, the network said the current waste management arrangement was inadequate to support effective enforcement of environmental regulations.
The organisation said it supported efforts to maintain a clean and healthy environment but insisted that residents must have access to functional waste disposal services before being punished for non-compliance.
“Our position is simple: the government must provide a workable waste disposal system before punishing residents for improper waste disposal,” the statement said.
The group expressed concern that some Private Sector Participation, PSP, waste collection operators reportedly visited certain communities only once every one or two months, leaving residents with limited opportunities to dispose of their refuse properly.
It urged the Osun State Government to establish a comprehensive waste management system outlining collection schedules, designated disposal points and the responsibilities of the government, private operators and residents.
The network warned that, “enforcing waste disposal regulations without providing accessible alternatives could encourage residents to burn refuse or dump it in drainage channels, potentially worsening air pollution, flooding and public health challenges.”
It also questioned the legal basis for the reported ₦50,000 fine imposed on alleged environmental offenders, calling on the Osun Waste Management Agency, OWMA, to explain the authority under which the penalty was introduced.
The organisation, while also demanding an end to the inhumane treatment of alleged offenders, insisted that recording and circulating their videos on social media violated their dignity.
It said those accused of environmental offences must be treated humanely and in accordance with the law.
As an immediate measure, the group called for the reintroduction of monthly environmental sanitation exercises for at least two to three months while the government develops a permanent solution.
It also urged authorities to strengthen the weekly Thursday market sanitation exercise by ensuring adequate waste collection and evacuation arrangements.
The network said, “waste management could create employment opportunities, attract investment and generate revenue if the government encouraged qualified private operators and invested in recycling and modern waste processing.
“Osun needs a clean environment, but this cannot be achieved through arrests alone.”
The group called on the government to publish a comprehensive waste management policy and engage civil society organisations, environmental experts, market associations and private operators in developing sustainable solutions.
“Effective enforcement should follow the provision of adequate services. Put the system in place first, make compliance possible, and then enforce the law fairly,” it maintained.
