Environment
Edo govt disclaim illegal waste levies by Iyekis
Written By: Emmanuel Ikhenebome
08 Sep 2025 12:59 AM
Benin, Edo – A recent Facebook post by a concerned citizen, Aigbe Kelli Eyonse, has ignited public outcry over alleged illegal activities by market women leaders, locally known as "Iyèkis," in several markets across Benin City.
The post, shared widely on social media, accuses these leaders of imposing unauthorized waste management levies, coercing traders, and seizing goods from those who refuse to comply.
This controversy has brought renewed attention to the Edo State Waste Management Board’s (ESWMB) statement issued on September 2, 2025, explicitly distancing itself from these levies and reaffirming its commitment to lawful waste management practices.
According to the viral post, the Iyèkis have assumed unauthorized roles as waste managers, issuing their own tickets and demanding payments from market traders.
The post questions the legitimacy of these actions, asking, “How can illegality birth legality?” and highlights the constitutional role of local government councils in waste management, as outlined in the 4th Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which assigns waste disposal responsibilities to local authorities.
In the September 2 statement signed by Akhigbe Martin, the ESWMB categorically denied any involvement with or endorsement of the waste levies imposed by the Iyèkis.
The Board emphasized that it is the sole state authority responsible for waste management in Edo State, with a mission to ensure efficient, sustainable, and lawful waste collection and disposal.
The statement clarified that no market leaders or unofficial groups have been authorized to collect waste-related fees on its behalf, labeling such actions as illegal and exploitative.
The Board further urged market traders to report any instances of coercion or unauthorized fee collection to its enforcement teams.
The ESWMB’s statement aligns with its broader efforts to overhaul waste management in Edo State under Governor Monday Okpebholo’s “Clean Edo” vision.
Recent reports indicate that the Board has prosecuted over 160 individuals for improper waste disposal and deployed advanced equipment to clear refuse across major roads and markets in Benin City.
The Facebook post raises a critical question about the role of local government councils, which are constitutionally empowered to manage waste disposal, even as legal experts note that the 4th Schedule of the 1999 Constitution explicitly assigns functions such as refuse collection and disposal to local governments, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the Iyèkis’ actions.
The post speculates about a possible “internal agreement” between the ESWMB and the market leaders, though no evidence has surfaced to support this claim.
The ESWMB has firmly denied any such arrangement, with the management reiterating its commitment to transparency and accountability.
Market traders and residents have expressed frustration over the situation, with some alleging that the Iyèkis’ actions exacerbate financial burdens in already challenging economic times.
The ESWMB has responded by intensifying community sensitization campaigns and deploying roving enforcement teams to monitor illegal dumping and unauthorized activities in markets.
The Board has also promised to investigate reports of coercion and take decisive action against those undermining its authority.
As the controversy unfolds, the ESWMB’s September 2 statement serves as a clear rebuke of the Iyèkis’ unauthorized levies, reinforcing that only state-sanctioned bodies are permitted to manage waste-related activities.
The post, shared widely on social media, accuses these leaders of imposing unauthorized waste management levies, coercing traders, and seizing goods from those who refuse to comply.
This controversy has brought renewed attention to the Edo State Waste Management Board’s (ESWMB) statement issued on September 2, 2025, explicitly distancing itself from these levies and reaffirming its commitment to lawful waste management practices.
According to the viral post, the Iyèkis have assumed unauthorized roles as waste managers, issuing their own tickets and demanding payments from market traders.
The post questions the legitimacy of these actions, asking, “How can illegality birth legality?” and highlights the constitutional role of local government councils in waste management, as outlined in the 4th Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which assigns waste disposal responsibilities to local authorities.
In the September 2 statement signed by Akhigbe Martin, the ESWMB categorically denied any involvement with or endorsement of the waste levies imposed by the Iyèkis.
The Board emphasized that it is the sole state authority responsible for waste management in Edo State, with a mission to ensure efficient, sustainable, and lawful waste collection and disposal.
The statement clarified that no market leaders or unofficial groups have been authorized to collect waste-related fees on its behalf, labeling such actions as illegal and exploitative.
The Board further urged market traders to report any instances of coercion or unauthorized fee collection to its enforcement teams.
The ESWMB’s statement aligns with its broader efforts to overhaul waste management in Edo State under Governor Monday Okpebholo’s “Clean Edo” vision.
Recent reports indicate that the Board has prosecuted over 160 individuals for improper waste disposal and deployed advanced equipment to clear refuse across major roads and markets in Benin City.
The Facebook post raises a critical question about the role of local government councils, which are constitutionally empowered to manage waste disposal, even as legal experts note that the 4th Schedule of the 1999 Constitution explicitly assigns functions such as refuse collection and disposal to local governments, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the Iyèkis’ actions.
The post speculates about a possible “internal agreement” between the ESWMB and the market leaders, though no evidence has surfaced to support this claim.
The ESWMB has firmly denied any such arrangement, with the management reiterating its commitment to transparency and accountability.
Market traders and residents have expressed frustration over the situation, with some alleging that the Iyèkis’ actions exacerbate financial burdens in already challenging economic times.
The ESWMB has responded by intensifying community sensitization campaigns and deploying roving enforcement teams to monitor illegal dumping and unauthorized activities in markets.
The Board has also promised to investigate reports of coercion and take decisive action against those undermining its authority.
As the controversy unfolds, the ESWMB’s September 2 statement serves as a clear rebuke of the Iyèkis’ unauthorized levies, reinforcing that only state-sanctioned bodies are permitted to manage waste-related activities.
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