By Asudemade Perspective

IBADAN – A Sustainable and Social Change Advocate, Idris Animasaun, has called on the Oyo State Government to establish a State Environmental Sanitation Corps to strengthen environmental governance and address the increasing environmental challenges confronting Ibadan and other urban centres across the state.

Animasaun made the call in a statement titled “Cleaning Up (Our Environment) Ibadan,” where he argued that the state’s environmental management framework must be reformed to reflect the realities of rapid urbanisation, population growth and climate-related risks.

According to him, the environmental challenges facing Ibadan require more deliberate and institutional responses than are currently in place.

He proposed that, rather than depending solely on an enforcement task force, the state should establish a professionally trained and legislatively backed Environmental Sanitation Corps operating in line with international best practices.

Animasaun explained that the proposed corps should be responsible not only for enforcing environmental laws but also for promoting environmental education, ensuring compliance with waste management regulations, carrying out public sensitisation campaigns, reducing flood risks through preventive measures and protecting public spaces from abuse and encroachment.

“The environmental challenges confronting Ibadan require far more deliberate attention than they currently receive. As the city continues to expand, our environmental management institutions must evolve to meet modern realities,” he said.

He further recommended that the agency be led by a competent environmental professional with proven expertise, integrity and a demonstrated commitment to environmental sustainability.

The advocate stressed that building cleaner, safer and more resilient communities requires strong, well-equipped institutions rather than periodic environmental sanitation exercises alone.

Ibadan, one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities, has continued to face mounting environmental challenges, including indiscriminate waste disposal, blocked drainage systems, flooding, poor sanitation and the unplanned expansion of residential communities. These challenges have heightened calls for stronger environmental governance and more sustainable urban management policies.

Animasaun expressed confidence that the establishment of a dedicated Environmental Sanitation Corps would improve environmental compliance, enhance public awareness and contribute significantly to the creation of a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Oyo State.