The Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Barr. Seun Ashamu, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to positioning Oyo as Nigeria’s leading sub-national entity in climate action and sustainable development, while also creating green jobs for its citizens.
Speaking on Thursday during the morning session of the Omituntun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing held at the Governor’s Office Briefing Room, Ashamu emphasized that the responsibilities of his Ministry go far beyond refuse collection, contrary to common misconceptions. He explained that the Ministry is actively driving comprehensive environmental reforms across areas such as urban waste management, climate resilience, and ecological infrastructure development.
According to Ashamu, Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration has made environmental governance a key pillar of sustainable development in Oyo State. Through institutional reforms, strategic investments, and public-private partnerships, the government is laying the foundation for a cleaner, healthier, and more climate-resilient future. He stated that by aligning local actions with global sustainability goals, Oyo State is not only improving environmental services today but also building strong governance systems and partnerships that will ensure lasting progress. He reaffirmed that the Ministry remains committed to transparency, innovation, and efficient service delivery to the people of Oyo State.
Highlighting achievements under the current administration, Ashamu noted major accomplishments in the areas of climate action, forestry, and environmental regulation. He disclosed that the Ministry and its partners have planted over 30,000 trees in the past six years, covering approximately 111 hectares of forest reserves. In addition, the Ministry has established three hectares each of indigenous tree species and medicinal herbariums featuring plants such as Moringa oleifera, Irvingia gabonensis, and Chrysophyllum albidum. He added that efforts have also been made in climate change education, and to strengthen institutional capacity, the Ministry has registered 474 environmental consultants and recruited 111 new staff members to enhance enforcement and field operations.
On flood control and climate resilience, Ashamu revealed that approximately 153 kilometres of blocked drains and culverts have been desilted across the state, 18 flood-prone streams have been dredged, and 30 kilometres of rivers have undergone channelisation. He added that about 50 bridges and culverts have been constructed through various initiatives by the Ministry in partnership with agencies such as the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), NEWMAP, and others. He also highlighted the state’s early warning system currently operating in Ibadan, which is the first of its kind among sub-national governments in Africa. This system alerts residents up to 72 hours before potential flooding, significantly enhancing the state’s disaster preparedness. He cited recent alerts that helped inform residents in Akinyele and Egbeda Local Government Areas about impending floods.
On waste management, Ashamu explained that the Ministry has restructured operations into 11 zonal clusters in Ibadan, each managed by licensed Private Sector Participants (PSPs) under registered government revenue codes. Currently, 14 waste consultants and over 190 PSPs are operating in the state. The Ministry has also intensified stakeholder engagement, public sensitisation, and enforcement efforts. Through these initiatives, it has sensitised markets and communities on proper waste disposal, and successfully prosecuted 750 illegal waste dumpers, 370 street traders, and 20 unregistered PSPs. He urged the public to patronise only registered PSPs and warned that illegal dumping of waste would attract strict legal consequences.
Furthermore, the Commissioner stated that the Ministry had cleared shanties from 73 public schools, thereby creating a safer and more conducive learning environment. He noted that significant progress had also been made in urban beautification, public health promotion, and the regulation of water resources. Looking to the future, Ashamu outlined the Ministry’s priorities, which include expanding tree-planting initiatives for soil stabilization, erosion control, urban greening, and climate adaptation efforts that align with Sustainable Development Goals 13, 15, and 11.
He added that the Ministry would also develop and implement a cross-sectoral Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework to integrate sustainability and risk management into public service delivery across sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure. Additionally, the state will formulate a comprehensive climate policy to address emissions mitigation, resilience planning, disaster risk reduction, and climate financing. The Commissioner concluded by stating that Oyo State would explore the next phase of waste management by transitioning to a formalised recycling system and continuing its efforts in dredging and desilting flood-prone waterways across the state.
