Edo Govt Forewarns Citizens About New Environmental Law Effective January 2026

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The Edo State Government has given a notice to residents of the state that with effect from January 2026, it would be embarking on a rigorous implementation of the new sanitation and pollution management law recently assented to by Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The state commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Nosa Adams, who disclosed this at a recent media parley in Benin City, noted that laws are not meant to be in the archives, and so, the enforcement of the new law, known as the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law, 2025, would start from January 2, 2026 “to an extent that everyone will know there is a new law in town”.

Adams, a lawyer, therefore solicited for synergy between the government and the media for a green, clean, and safer environment in the state.

Bemoaning the level at which the environment was being degraded, polluted without any means of remediation, Adams said he was poised to implementing the new law to the letter, and the media would be needed for advocacy, enlightenment of the public on the new law.

The commissioner said, “There is a new law called Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law, 2025. The law was signed by his Excellency some weeks ago. We want to embark on a rigorous implementation of the new law. Laws are not meant to be in the archives.

“The enforcement will start from January 2, 2026, to an extent that everyone will know there is a new law in town.

“We are embarking on enlightenment, we are embarking on advocacy, before we now proceed to enforcement, enforcement like never before. But in doing this, we need the press. So, let’s synergise to save our environment for further degradation.”

Adams, who assumed office October last year, stated that “since I assumed office, I have tried my best to improve on the environment in our state. The way our environment is going, I mean the level of environmental degradation with no remediation and regeneration, if we allow it to continue like this, the current generation will not be able to survive it let alone the coming generation.

“Industries are springing up. They emit flame into the air, and we breathe in the air. This is not safe for us. I am very determined to have a cleaner and greener environment. Our environment must be clean, safe, and habitable. In doing that, we need partners like the media.”

While stating that his ministry had put in place machinery for “serious remediation, regeneration, and restoration of our environment,” Adams noted that “these programmes are geared towards giving us a safe environment to live in”.

Underscoring the need to protect the environment, Adams posited that “We have discovered that the environment is life. If you are a billionaire, and you do not live in a good environment, you are not safe. The environment and food are the most important things to man’s existence. Unfortunately, or probably ignorantly, people embark on activities that are very detrimental to our environment.”