From Chris Akhabue, Edo
Edo State’s ambitious quest to become Nigeria’s cleanest state is no longer just a policy aspiration ,it is now rapidly evolving into a test case of governance, political will, and citizen accountability.
At the centre of this unfolding narrative is the Edo State Waste Management Board (EWMB), whose recent actions signal a decisive shift from the traditional every last Saturday environmental sanitation campaigns to a more structured, and arguably more proactive environmental governance model. Yet beneath the optimism lies a fundamental question, can policy enforcement succeed without genuine public buy-in?
The Managing Director of the Board, Dr. Enehita-Inegbenehi, has rolled out a mix of advocacy, infrastructure upgrades, and regulatory enforcement aimed at redefining the scope of how waste is managed across the state. The approach is both ambitious and commendable, blending enlightenment with penalties in a manner that reflects a broader approach aimed at achieving the desired set objectives.
The strategy is both ambitious and commendable. It blends public enlightenment with penalties in a manner that reflects a broader drive to achieve the objectives of the SHINE Agenda of Governor Sen. Monday Okpebholo, a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Edo.
Stakeholders say the success of the new model will depend not just on the Board’s capacity to enforce, but on how well citizens embrace their role as partners in keeping Edo clean.
A flagship initiative, the EWMB Academy, represents the soft power dimension of this strategy. Designed to penetrate schools, markets, and religious institutions, the programme seeks to reshape public behaviour and perceptions by embedding waste management consciousness into daily life. It is a progressive intervention, one that acknowledges that environmental reform cannot succeed without cultural reorientation.
To complement its advocacy efforts, the Board has invested in new waste disposal equipment, signalling a recognition that enforcement without capacity would be ineffective. Across Benin City and beyond, authorities have also introduced structured waste disposal systems, including the installation of designated bins in high-traffic areas such as Ring Road.
In what appears to be deliberate efforts to deepen the campaign against indiscriminate violations of environmental laws authorities have threatened to confiscate goods from traders who encroach on walkways and set to prosecute individuals who dump refuse indiscriminately. Backed by the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law of 2025, the government is wielding legal instruments to compel compliance.
Equally significant is the renewed campaign against unregistered waste collectors, commonly known as cart pushers. By urging residents to patronise only accredited agents, the Board is attempting to formalise the waste management ecosystem.
The government insists that the reforms are non-negotiable. “Public roads, medians, and walkways are not marketplaces or dumping grounds,” Dr. Enehita-Inegbenehi declared, reinforcing the administration’s zero-tolerance posture.
To achieve and enforce compliance, EWMB recently entered into collaboration with the
Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, Edo State Command, to strengthen enforcement against indiscriminate waste disposal across the state.
The collaboration was sealed during a meeting held at the VGN’S headquarters in Benin City, as part of renewed efforts by the Okpebholo administration to keep Edo clean, healthy, and environmentally sustainable.
Beyond policy pronouncements and enforcement lies a more profound reality—the success of Edo’s cleanliness drive will ultimately be determined by the willingness of residents to change long-standing habits. Without this shift, even the most sophisticated strategies risk becoming another cycle of well-intentioned but short-lived reforms.
There are, however, signs of progress. Waste collection systems are gradually improving, public awareness is increasing, and the state appears more organised than in previous years. As the Managing Director cautiously observed, Edo may not yet have reached its destination, but it has undeniably moved away from its past.
Of significant importance to the realization of making Edo the cleanest state is the compliance by residents. It will be determined on the streets, in the markets, and within households—where the real battle for environmental sustainability is being fought.
For now, the message from the state is clear: cleanliness is no longer optional. The only question that remains is whether the people are ready to match the government’s resolve to ensure the sustainability of reforms that is aimed at engendering an environmentally friendly ecosystem that would ultimately be the pride of the nation.