By Matthew Denis
The Kwara State Government on Saturday arraigned 80 residents before various mobile courts sitting in Ilorin for violating the environmental sanitation law of the state.
Recall that the state government set aside last Saturday of every month for the sanitation exercise.
The offences for which the defaulters were charged included failure to participate in the exercise and roaming about during the exercise.
The presiding judges at the courts were noticed imposing fines on the offenders upon being found guilty of the offences slammed on them.
This medium observed that while many of the accused paid their fines, others who could not afford it were taken to the detention facility of security agencies.
Findings by this medium also indicate that there were lapses in some areas such as non-availability of security agents, late resumption of the judges and shortage of manpower for the exercise.
Speaking with journalists after the exercise, the Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Engr. Amos Shayo said the exercise was carried out to consolidate on the clean bill of record enjoyed by the state.
He said despite the current financial crisis, the state government was magnanimous to approve funds for the sustainability of the exercise.
The commissioner restated the commitment of the government in ensuring a clean and green environment just as he disclosed that his office will collaborate with three local government areas in Kwara Central for effective exercise, next month.
He added that the state government will equally meet with various security agents to seek further assistance in the area of compliance by the public.
