By Abdullahi Lukman
The Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has activated flood alert and preparedness measures ahead of the 2026 rainy season, Commissioner Ademola Aderinto announced on Wednesday.
Speaking in Ibadan during activities marking World Earth Day, Aderinto said the measures include early warning sensitisation for residents in flood-prone areas and continuous monitoring of drainage systems to reduce risks to lives and property.
He noted that the state is facing growing environmental pressures such as climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and rapid urbanisation, which have led to increased waste generation and indiscriminate dumping.
According to him, these challenges require coordinated and sustained interventions.
The commissioner added that the government, led by Seyi Makinde, has strengthened sanitation enforcement under existing regulations, intensified inspections of markets, eateries, hotels, and industries, and introduced a decentralised waste management system across local government areas.
Public awareness campaigns have also been expanded to encourage responsible environmental practices.
Aderinto further disclosed that the ministry has intensified the desilting of drainage channels across the metropolis to ensure free flow of stormwater, alongside improved pollution monitoring systems, particularly for air quality control.
In her remarks, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi warned that changing weather patterns and rising temperatures are increasingly affecting public health.
She urged residents to adopt sustainable practices such as proper waste disposal, tree planting, and reducing
air pollution caused by burning refuse.
Also speaking, Elijah Adejimi of the Nature and Future Eco-Green Initiative called for collective responsibility in protecting the environment, stressing the importance of tree planting and sustainable stewardship across the state.