By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Oyo State government has shut down the popular Saint Mary Catholic Church, Oke-Padre, Ibadan, for violating “severe environmental laws.”
The government said the action arose from the church’s dilapidated toilet facilities that caused air pollution and sewage overflow in the area.
The development was contained in a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, on Thursday,May 29.
In it, the State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Seun Ashamu, was quoted as saying that the situation contravened the state environmental regulations and required “urgent intervention” to prevent potential health hazards.
Ashamu described the situation as a public health emergency, stressing that urgent action was necessary to avert a potential outbreak.
“We cannot afford to wait for more casualties before responding. Preventive action is our priority,” he stated.
According to him, the Ministry received multiple complaints from residents alleging that the church had been discharging human waste into the environment.
He said that officers from the Ministry, upon inspection, observed visible sewage discharge and a strong odour, which prompted the issuance of formal notice to the church on Monday.
“The deteriorated condition of the toilet facilities reportedly led to raw sewage being pumped into the open drainage, contaminating the entire neighborhood,” Ashamu explained.
The Commissioner explained that the government could not afford to delay action, saying “this is not a situation where we wait and issue repeated notices. When faeces are being pumped into the streets and the air is polluted, immediate intervention is necessary to prevent a disease outbreak.”
He further revealed that the church allegedly defied the government’s directive by forcefully reopening its premises after it was sealed –an action he described as illegal and punishable under the state’s environmental laws.
As a result, the church was fined ₦500,000 for the infraction, he stated.
“We are not targeting the church. Our only concern is public health and safety. What is expected of them is clear: Open the septic tanks, evacuate the waste properly, fumigate the premises, and ensure compliance with environmental standards,” he said.
He added that further sanctions might be applied should the church continue to disregard the law, affirming that the state’s environmental laws were upheld to prevent further health risks.
