Governor Monday Okpebholo
BENIN CITY, Nigeria – Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo inaugurates 100 Environmental Compliance Corps (EECC) to strengthen environmental protection, public health and responsible governance across the state.
The inauguration, held on Wednesday in Benin City, signals a renewed push to enforce environmental laws and improve sanitation standards. Represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Emmanuel Okoebor, the governor urges the corps members to serve with courage, integrity and professionalism.
“The inauguration of EECC today reaffirms this administration’s commitment to environmental protection, public health, and responsible governance,” Okpebholo says in a written address.
He describes a clean environment as both a social necessity and an economic imperative, noting that environmental compliance supports productivity, investment and overall wellbeing. The governor calls on the officers to work closely with communities, ensuring enforcement inspires trust rather than fear.
“You are expected to carry out your duties with professionalism, discipline, and respect for the law while working closely with communities to promote environmental compliance and awareness,” he adds.
Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability Nosa Adams says the 100 officers constitute the first batch of the EECC, selected through credible and transparent processes. He explains that the corps undergoes an intensive four-day training focused on enforcing the Edo Environmental Waste Management and Pollution Law.
The law, recently signed by the governor, adopts a holistic approach to environmental governance, covering waste management, pollution control and ecosystem protection.
“It’s our conviction that if the law is fully implemented, we would have a healthier, cleaner, and greener environment,” Adams says.
The state government believes the corps will play a critical role in changing public attitudes to environmental responsibility while ensuring compliance through lawful enforcement.
