Oyo State Government has warned residents of Ijaye, Ido, Olowo-Igbo, Iseyin and Ibarapa against drinking water from contaminated streams in their communities.
Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Abiodun Oni, gave the warning in a statement issued in Ibadan, on Wednesday.
He said a truck conveying chemical substances emptied its content into a drainage that was eventually washed into the streams passing through the five communities.
Oni noted that the truck conveying substances presumed to be soap making chemicals was involved in an accident on Iroko-Oyo highway, adding that the chemicals which fell off into the drainage ended up contaminating the streams passing through the five communities, contaminating the quality of water and rendering it toxic to humans and environment.
According to the statement, farmers who planted cash crops within the affected areas as well as fishermen should suspend every activity until the waters have been tested and considered safe for consumption.
The commsisinoer added that the state government is on top of the situation, stressing that the ministry has dispatched some of its staff to the affected areas to continue to monitor the situation.
He also said water analysis would be conducted until the water was ascertained to be safe for consumption.
“The state government will continue to ensure that the ecosystem is protected in the state,” he added
Oni charged citizens to also take responsibility by properly handling and disposing of chemical substances and other biodegradable items and ensure 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,” he added.
