Ekiti authorities seal restaurant due to poor sanitation.

The Ekiti State Government has ordered the closure of a restaurant in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, citing breaches of sanitation rules.

The closure resulted from an enforcement operation conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry said the operation formed part of a broader effort to tackle environmental sanitation violations that have been linked to persistent odour problems in several areas of the capital.

Mrs. Tosin Aluko‑Ajisafe, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, led the ministry’s inspection team around the Federal Polytechnic Satellite Campus Junction and other locations in Ado Ekiti. She explained, “The enforcement action was part of government efforts to address environmental infractions contributing to pollution and offensive odour in the area.”

Aluko‑Ajisafe added that a well‑known eatery in the vicinity was sealed after it was found to be contravening environmental sanitation regulations. Preliminary investigations indicated that the establishment stored waste in an underground septic tank and discharged it into nearby drainage channels during nighttime hours.

She noted that such practices could cause environmental contamination and exacerbate the offensive odour reported in parts of the state capital.

She also said another restaurant in the area received a stern warning for operating under unsanitary conditions and was instructed to comply immediately with environmental health standards to avoid further penalties.

The commissioner cautioned business owners and residents against indiscriminate waste disposal and other actions that could jeopardise public health, emphasizing that the state government would enforce environmental laws rigorously against violators.

During the inspection tour, the commissioner visited a gas plant and later proceeded to Oja Bisi Market, where she urged traders to keep the environment clean and refrain from displaying goods on walkways.

She called on residents to report any suspicious environmental activities in their communities that might lead to air pollution or other public‑health hazards.

According to Aluko‑Ajisafe, the state government remains committed to ongoing monitoring, enforcement, and sanitation reforms aimed at restoring a cleaner and healthier environment throughout Ekiti.

She also appealed to residents to allow legal processes to run their course in cases involving environmental offenders, stressing the importance of cooperation with enforcement agencies to achieve effective environmental protection.