OYO State Acting Governor, Bayo Lawal, has reiterated the administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property by strengthening collaboration with security agencies and relevant stakeholders.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Musibau Babatunde, Lawal made this declaration on Tuesday at a workshop on awareness, intelligence gathering, and institutional response to emerging threats linked to illicit financial flows in Agodi, Ibadan.
The acting governor emphasised that the state government has intensified partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prevent the exploitation of humanitarian funding platforms and other financial channels for terrorism financing and criminal activities.
The Oyo State government has commenced the enforcement of the house-to-house waste collection policy, with environmental officers of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources embarking on inspections of residential buildings, business premises and other facilities to ensure compliance with proper waste management regulations.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, stated this during the kick off of the exercise on Tuesday, explaining that the measure was in line with the laws of the state mandating residents, businesses and other establishments to have proper arrangements for the disposal of their waste.
He noted that the enforcement was necessary to address the environmental, aesthetic, economic and public health challenges associated with improper waste management.
According to him, the exercise involves inspecting premises to ascertain whether occupants have appropriate waste bins and are registered with approved and designated waste consultants assigned to their locations
He said buildings found without the required waste bins or proper waste collection were being served abatement notices and given a 48-hour grace to comply.
Aderinto stressed that failure to comply within the stipulated 48 hours would attract enforcement action, including the closure of defaulting premises, noting that the government would continue the exercise across the state until the required level of compliance is achieved.
The commissioner urged residents to cooperate with the government by obtaining appropriate waste bins and engaging only approved waste consultants designated to their areas.
He advised residents to report any accredited waste collector who fails to evacuate waste as required to the Ministry or the Oyo State Solid Waste Management Authority (OYOWMA), assuring that such consultants would face appropriate sanctions, including revocation of their licences.
He noted that the evolving security situation in the Southwest, particularly recent incidents of kidnapping, underscores the need for stakeholders to adopt stronger measures against unconventional threats. According to him, criminal networks are increasingly deploying sophisticated methods to raise and move funds, including misuse of crowdfunding platforms, humanitarian interventions, NGOs, and informal financial systems.
‘While humanitarian assistance remains critical to supporting vulnerable communities, there is a need for improved regulatory frameworks, proper documentation, and effective monitoring to ensure such platforms are not hijacked by individuals or groups with criminal intentions,’ Lawal stated.
He further stressed that strengthening financial intelligence and enhancing coordination among government agencies will be pivotal in disrupting criminal networks.
The acting governor urged participants from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to deepen their understanding of terrorism financing trends and develop proactive strategies for early detection and prevention.
He also called for the establishment of dedicated desks in MDAs to facilitate intelligence sharing, monitor suspicious financial activities, and ensure prompt responses to emerging security challenges.
The workshop provided a platform for experts and stakeholders to exchange best practices in countering terrorism financing, strengthening institutional capacity, and protecting legitimate humanitarian interventions from abuse.
At the event were the Commissioner for Energy, Prof. Dahud Shangodoyin; Commissioner for Investment, Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, Prof. Solihu Adelabu; Commissioner for Works and Transport, Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola; permanent secretaries, directors, and other top government officials.