Oyo govt, Akinyele family launch 10-day roadside clean-up in Ibadan

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Oyo State Government has partnered with the Akinyele family to launch a 10-day roadside clean-up and sensitisation exercise along the 12.5-kilometre roadway named after late Administrator, Theophilus Adeleke Akinyele, in Ibadan.

The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, said the initiative commemorates Akinyele’s 94th posthumous birthday and coincides with activities marking the 50th anniversary of the creation of Oyo State.

He noted that the late administrator served as secretary to the military government and head of service between 1976 and 1979, playing a key role in establishing the state’s early governance structure.

Flagging off the exercise, Aderinto described the collaboration as a model public-private partnership, stressing that environmental protection requires active participation from both government and citizens.

The commissioner added that the operation would involve desilting road surfaces, clearing drainages and medians, evacuating accumulated waste, deploying mechanical equipment and manual labour, as well as post-cleaning washing to ensure lasting sanitation.

He further noted that the initiative aims to restore sanitation along the road corridor and adjoining drainage systems, promote compliance with proper waste management practices, and strengthen enforcement against illegal dumping, waste burning and construction on waterways or road setbacks.

Aderinto urged residents to support the exercise by maintaining proper sanitation practices, patronising accredited waste collectors and reporting environmental infractions through government channels, including the whistleblower strategy and the Oyo SSS digital reporting platform.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Akikunmi Akinyele, the late administrator’s son, described the project as a living tribute to their father’s legacy of discipline and excellence in public service.