As part of efforts to mitigate the risk of flooding, eradicate environmental pollution, and safeguard the lives of residents, Community leaders have been tasked to work in synergy with the Ogun State Government in the enforcement of environmental laws. 

Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Hon. Ademola Balogun, gave the task during a meeting in Abeokuta, with Community Development Council (CDC) leaders in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, to address flooding and other environmental pollution, charging members of the newly established Environment Community Relations Committee (ECRC) to work assiduously with government in providing cleaner and safer communities for residents.

Hon. Balogun noted that the creation of the Committee was necessary, emphasising that the task of providing a cleaner and safer environment was a collective effort  and should not be left in the hands of government alone, assuring that they would be empowered to function as expected.

Speaking, Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Bola Oresanya explained that members of the Committee would serve as the first level of information dissemination officers, monitoring and reporting environmental infringement activities, as well as ensuring enforcement of environmental laws and policies, assuring that they would be fully authorised to arrest anyone found violating the laws in their communities.

The Commissioner noted that as leaders in their various communities, they were the closest to the people and best at educating and informing members of their localities about the State government’s policies, programmes and laws, aimed at improving the environment, enjoining them to work hand in hand to ensure a safer community for all residents.

"We want to work hand in hand with you at the community levels to ensure that our people know that CDCs and CDAs can enforce laws. When you call us at the Ministry to make reports, we have a task force in place to make arrest and take immediate actions. Let us work together to bring sanity to our environment and communities," he said.

Responding,  representatives from Obafemi-Owode and Remo-North Local Governments, Engr. Adeleke Gboyega and Mr. Abdullah Rasheed, appreciated the State Government for the various initiatives and programmes to improve the well-being of residents, promising to carry out their responsibilities and roles as members of the Committee in their various communities.