Adeleke Approves Two-Hour Weekly Environmental Sanitation Exercise Across Osun

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the immediate commencement of a compulsory two-hour weekly environmental sanitation exercise across the state, directing market operators, shop owners, artisans and other business operators to participate.

The exercise will hold every Thursday between 8:00 am and 10:00 am as part of the state government’s renewed efforts to tackle indiscriminate refuse disposal, enforce environmental regulations and promote a cleaner and healthier environment.

The directive was announced in a statement issued by the State Head of Service and Chairman of the newly constituted Osun State Environmental Sanitation Taskforce, Samuel Ayanleye Aina, on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

According to the state government, the exercise is intended to address improper waste disposal and other environmental violations that threaten public health and environmental cleanliness.

Osun Government Directs Businesses to Participate

Under the new directive, offices, markets, shops, malls, stores, artisan workshops and other business premises across Osun State are expected to participate in the weekly sanitation exercise.

The government has also directed business owners and operators to be physically present at their premises during the designated period to ensure that the cleaning activities are properly carried out.

The initiative places responsibility on businesses and commercial operators to maintain clean surroundings and ensure that refuse is not dumped in unauthorised locations.

The government believes that regular participation by residents and business operators will help improve sanitation standards across the state’s towns and communities.

Security Agents to Monitor Compliance

The Osun State Government has also announced that law enforcement agents will be deployed during the exercise to support compliance with the directive.

However, the government clarified that the presence of security personnel is not intended to facilitate arrests during the sanitation exercise.

Instead, the agents are expected to complement the taskforce’s efforts by encouraging compliance and supporting the implementation of the environmental sanitation programme.

The clarification is significant because the involvement of security personnel in compulsory public exercises can raise concerns among residents and business operators.

The government has therefore emphasised that the primary objective is to ensure cleanliness and compliance with environmental regulations rather than to arrest participants.

Why Osun Is Reintroducing Weekly Sanitation

The renewed sanitation exercise comes amid efforts by the Adeleke administration to strengthen environmental management and address indiscriminate refuse disposal across the state.

Improper waste disposal remains a challenge in many communities, particularly where refuse is deposited along roadsides, in drainage channels, on open spaces and at other unauthorised locations.

Such practices can obstruct drainage systems, contribute to flooding and create unhygienic conditions that may encourage the spread of diseases.

Waste accumulation can also undermine the appearance of towns and commercial centres, affecting residents’ quality of life and the general condition of public spaces.

By introducing a fixed weekly sanitation period, the state government hopes to encourage more consistent cleaning practices and strengthen public participation in environmental management.

Taskforce Calls for Public Cooperation

Aina has urged residents, market operators, artisans, office workers and other business owners to cooperate with the government and participate fully in the exercise.

The taskforce is expected to play a central role in monitoring compliance and addressing environmental violations, particularly the indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

The effectiveness of the initiative, however, will depend on more than issuing directives. Consistent public participation, efficient waste collection, accessible disposal facilities and sustained monitoring will be essential to achieving lasting improvements.

The government will also need to ensure that sanitation activities are coordinated effectively across different communities and commercial centres.

What the New Directive Means for Residents and Business Owners

With the exercise scheduled for every Thursday from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, business owners and workers across Osun are expected to make the period part of their weekly sanitation routines.

Market associations, shop owners, artisans and managers of commercial premises may need to coordinate their activities to ensure that their surroundings are cleaned within the stipulated period.

Residents also have a role to play by avoiding indiscriminate dumping of refuse and complying with existing environmental regulations.

The government’s directive places particular emphasis on the participation of business operators, but maintaining a clean environment ultimately requires cooperation among households, businesses, waste management operators and public authorities.

Governor Adeleke’s approval of the compulsory two-hour weekly environmental sanitation exercise represents another step in Osun State’s efforts to improve environmental cleanliness and discourage improper waste disposal.

The exercise will take place every Thursday from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, with security personnel deployed to support compliance rather than arrest participants during the exercise.

For the initiative to achieve its objectives, the state government must combine enforcement with public education, effective waste collection and accessible disposal facilities.

Residents and business operators, on their part, must recognise that environmental sanitation is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the two-hour exercise.

A cleaner Osun will require consistent public cooperation and sustained government action to ensure that proper waste management becomes a regular practice throughout the state.

By Joseph Iyaji

Akahi News