The Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Dr. Tob Loko, has said Akure is steadily regaining its identity as a clean and well-maintained state capital, crediting the transformation to the leadership of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
In a statement, Dr. Loko noted that the renewal effort is becoming visible across major parts of the capital, including Oba-Ile, Alagbaka, A-Division, Oba Adesida Road, Road Block, NEPA, Arakale, Hospital Road, Isikan and Ondo Road, among other locations, where his ministry has intensified environmental sanitation activities.
According to him, ongoing interventions include the clearing of accumulated soil and debris, trimming of flowers and ornamental plants, pruning of overgrown weeds, sweeping of major road corridors, and the maintenance of landscaped areas, gateways and other strategic points within the city.
The commissioner stressed that the initiative goes beyond routine cleaning, describing it as a deliberate shift in how environmental management is approached in the state capital. He explained that rather than reacting to public complaints, the ministry is now focused on continuous maintenance, prevention and sustainable urban management, with the goal of building systems that keep Akure clean, green and orderly on a permanent basis rather than intermittently.
Dr. Loko said the Ministry of Environment, under the direction of Governor Aiyedatiwa, is strengthening the institutional structures required to make environmental responsibility a lasting feature of the state capital's urban landscape, describing the approach as intentional and systematic rather than incidental.
While acknowledging that more work remains to be done, he expressed optimism that the progress recorded so far marks the beginning of a more structured effort to preserve the character, beauty and functionality of Akure.
The commissioner also commended the Hon. Mrs. Yinka Alabi-led Waste Management Authority for recording notable progress in waste collection, management and evacuation, noting that the integrated approach between his ministry and the authority would be strengthened and extended to other parts of the state in pursuit of cleaner and better-managed communities.
Dr. Loko, however, emphasised that sustaining the gains recorded would require a strong partnership between government and residents. He appealed to residents, traders, transport operators, landlords, community leaders and institutions to take responsibility for the environment around them by keeping their frontages clean, disposing of waste properly, avoiding indiscriminate dumping in drains and road corridors, and protecting public spaces being maintained by the government.
He noted that while Governor Aiyedatiwa has provided the necessary leadership and direction, and government has continued to play its part, the responsibility of maintaining a clean and beautiful Akure ultimately rests on the collective commitment of both government and citizens.
The commissioner expressed confidence that with sustained collaboration, a cleaner, greener and more beautiful Akure would move beyond being a campaign promise to becoming a lasting reality for residents of the state capital.
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