The Kwara State Government has issued a stern warning to residents and road users against the indiscriminate dumping of refuse along the Airport Road axis in Ilorin. The government declared that such actions will now be treated as environmental abuse and prosecuted under the state's existing laws.

The General Manager of the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA), Jide Aina, gave the warning during a special cleanup exercise along the route. In a statement released on Monday by the agency's Press Secretary, Aliyu Amode, Aina expressed deep concern that the area is being transformed into an illegal dumpsite despite clear government directives.

Aina noted that the Ministry of Environment had already provided four large "Roro" bins in the area to facilitate proper waste disposal. However, he lamented that some residents have continued to ignore these facilities, choosing instead to dump trash along the road setbacks.

"Illegal dumping of refuse along the Airport Road is environmental abuse and indiscipline, and it will no longer be tolerated," Aina stated. He described the practice as a total disregard for the administration's efforts to maintain a clean and healthy capital.

Beyond dumping, the KWEPA boss also condemned the dangerous habit of open burning of refuse along the road. He warned that this practice poses severe risks to public health and the environment, urging residents to utilize the provided bins to avoid facing legal consequences.

"Open burning of waste and indiscriminate dumping are criminal offences under the Kwara State Environmental Laws," Aina stated, adding that such actions endanger residents and motorists using the road.

According to him, KWEPA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, has deployed monitoring and enforcement teams to the affected areas to curb the practice.

"Anyone caught engaging in illegal dumping, open burning or related environmental offences will be arrested and prosecuted in line with the law," he warned.

Aina urged residents across the state to support the government's sanitation drive by adopting responsible waste disposal habits, stressing that environmental cleanliness is a collective responsibility.

He said, "Keeping our environment clean is a civic duty that is critical to public health, safety, and sustainable development."

The clean-up exercise was attended by top government officials, including the Commissioner for Environment, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, and other senior officials, underscoring the state government's commitment to maintaining a clean and environmentally friendly Kwara.