The St. Mary Catholic Cathedral at Oke-Padre, Ibadan, has been sealed by the Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources due to allegations of improper sewage disposal and air pollution.
Archbishop of the Ibadan Archdiocese, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, disclosed the development during a press briefing held at the Pastoral Institute, Bodija, Ibadan, in observance of the 2025 World Communications Day.
The Archbishop criticized the ministry’s approach, stating that the church was shut down without prior warning or notification.
He described the ministry’s actions as abrupt and lacking proper communication.
“There was no prior notice, no warning, no ultimatum. They initially sealed the restroom and later chained the main entrance to the cathedral,” Abegunrin explained.
“When we sought clarification, officials from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources mentioned a complaint from a neighboring resident, but they declined to show us the petition.”
He also disclosed that the church was ordered to pay a fine of ₦500,000 for the alleged environmental infractions.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sunday Ojelabi, confirmed the enforcement and explained that the ministry acted based on a complaint regarding persistent air pollution and sewage discharge issues at the cathedral.
“Although the ministry secured the cathedral’s entrance, it was forcefully reopened,” Ojelabi said.
“We conducted a site inspection on Monday and sealed the premises the following day. The petition indicated that the pollution had been ongoing since last year.”
Ojelabi defended the imposed fine, clarifying that it is a statutory penalty that must be paid into government funds, not a personal account.
“This is a government regulation. The law authorizes immediate action in cases posing public health risks, which this situation qualifies as,” he stated.
On World Communications Day, Archbishop Abegunrin urged media practitioners to use their influence responsibly by spreading messages of hope, unity, and truth.
“Your stories and images influence society profoundly,” he remarked. “They have the power to heal or harm, build up or tear down. Use your platforms to promote what is honorable and truthful.”
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