Ekiti govt blames pig waste for foul smell in Ado-Ekiti community
...vows to prosecute offenders
By Idowu Adebomi, Ado Ekiti
Following a report published on 7 June 2025, in which residents of Ajebamidele Quarters, Ajilosun area in Ado Ekiti, raised serious concerns over a large volume of uncollected refuse in their locality, the Ekiti State Government has issued a response.
Upon a follow-up visit by our correspondent, it was observed that the waste had been cleared. Confirming this, the Director General of the Ekiti State Waste Management Board, Mr Olasunkanmi Onipede, stated that the refuse was removed almost immediately after the public backlash.
According to Mr Onipede, the board remains fully committed to its responsibility of maintaining a clean and healthy environment. He attributed the offensive odour and swarm of flies in the area not to regular domestic waste, but to livestock waste particularly pig dung and carcasses which had been improperly disposed of by some livestock farmers.
“We are calling on residents of the Ado Ekiti metropolis to dispose of their waste properly. We discovered that the odour and flies were caused by some pig farmers who dumped livestock waste into bins meant for household refuse. This practice is unacceptable because animal waste should not be mixed with domestic refuse,” he said.
The Director General further explained that livestock owners are required to register with Private Sector Partnership (PSP) operators accredited by the Ekiti State Waste Management Authority. These PSP operators are responsible for the proper collection and disposal of livestock waste to prevent environmental hazards.
“Pig rearers must understand that they cannot dispose of their waste indiscriminately. They should register with PSP operators and ensure that their livestock waste is managed appropriately, without endangering the community or posing a public health threat,” Mr Onipede added.
He warned that the board would not hesitate to sanction or prosecute any livestock farmer who fails to comply with these waste disposal regulations.
The Commissioner for Environment, Chief Mrs Tosin Aluko Ajisafe, also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to enforcing proper sanitation across the Ado Ekiti metropolis. She urged homeowners to construct toilets within their compounds to discourage the unhealthy practice of dumping human waste into public refuse bins.
Mrs Aluko further appealed to residents to refrain from mixing refuse with faeces and from dumping dead animals in public bins, noting that these actions pose significant health risks.
The Director General concluded by emphasising that while the government continues to invest in sanitation—including the recent procurement of new waste trucks—residents must also play their part in upholding cleanliness and supporting state-wide waste management efforts.
“Cleanliness is next to godliness,” he said, urging all residents to cooperate for a cleaner and healthier environment.
Despite recent improvements, refuse accumulation remains a pressing challenge in Ado Ekiti, with several major streets still suffering neglect.
However, the government has pledged to intensify public sensitisation and enforcement actions to address the menace of indiscriminate waste disposal.