*asks residents, farmers to stay away
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Government on Wednesday, raised alarm of influx of contaminated water into streams and rivers in some parts of the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Abiodun Oni who raised the alarm in a statement in Ibadan, warned residents of Ijaye, Ido, Olowo-Igbo, Iseyin and Ibarapa against drinking water from contaminated streams in their communities.
Also, the government advised farmers planting cash crops within the affected areas as well as fishermen to suspend every activity within the vicinity, until the waters have been tested and considered safe for consumption.
Mr Oni declared that a truck conveying chemical substances emptied its content into a drainage that was eventually washed into the streams passing through the five communities.
The Commissioner maintained that the truck was involved in an accident at Iroko-Oyo highway, while conveying substances presumed to be soap making chemicals, adding that the soap making chemicals which fell off into the drainage ended up contaminating the streams passing through the five communities hence impairing the quality of the water and rendering it toxic to humans and the environment at large.
Mr Oni disclosed that the state government is on top of the situation as the Ministry have dispatched some of their staff to the affected areas to continue to monitor the situation while also conducting a water sampling until the water can be ascertained safe for consumption.
“The State government will continue to ensure that the ecosystem is protected in the state” he said.
Oyo state government however
charged the people of the areas to also take responsibility by properly handling and disposing of chemical substances and other biodegradable items and ensuring that they do not end up in the streams.
“Furthermore, they should jettison the bad culture of dumping wastes into drainages as they eventually find their ways into streams and rivers and eventually make up their way in the food chain process as such posing threats to all humans”.
