The Kwara State Government has warned that it will no longer turn a blind eye to environmental law violations, introducing mobile courts to enforce compliance. The new measures will commence at Ilorin Central Market (Oja Oba), targeting illegal dumping and unauthorised trading on public roads and walkways.

Hajia Nafisat Musa Buge, Commissioner for Environment, announced the crackdown during a meeting with ministry staff at the Government Reservation Area (GRA) headquarters in Ilorin on Sunday. She stated: "We will reactivate mobile courts immediately to penalise those who breach environmental laws by littering indiscriminately or trading on roads, walkways, and road medians."

The initiative aims to tackle persistent issues such as unregulated waste disposal and encroachment on public spaces, which hinder urban cleanliness and safety. The mobile courts will serve as a swift adjudication mechanism to deter repeat offenders and ensure accountability.

"In this vein, we shall ensure that Mobile courts begin to sit at strategic locations in the metropolis, especially Ilorin Central Market (Oja-Oba), where law enforcement agents ensures compliance with relevant guidelines, to eliminate road encroachment.

"In addition, Environmental Health Officers have been detailed to join the team and work in conjunction with security agencies, to apprehend violators and sanction them accordingly. The Magistrate will also be on ground to determine relevant cases, so that those incapable of paying fine, will have the option of spending some time in the correctional centres with their wares confiscated." The Commissioner added.

Buge stressed further that "Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led administration has done the needful by investing resources into infrastructural rehabilitation, to enhance a decent environment for us to live and earn our livelihood. Therefore, residents who are in doubt about the status of their premises should contact Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW - GIS) in order to to obtain necessary and relevant documents of their property."

She seized the opportunity to inform the public on flood alerts received from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), warning them against indiscriminate dumping of waste in water ways, drainage channels and road medians, to avert flooding and sustain rainfall as a divine blessings.