The Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources recently took decisive action by sealing off the St. Mary Catholic Cathedral located in Oke-Padre, Ibadan.
This enforcement followed allegations of air pollution and improper sewage disposal attributed to the church premises. The closure of such a major religious institution has generated considerable attention and stirred emotions among the local community and church leadership.
The announcement of the ministry’s intervention was made public by the Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin. He disclosed the development during a press conference held at the Pastoral Institute in Bodija, Ibadan, which coincided with the 2025 World Communications Day.
The archbishop used the platform not only to address the immediate issue but also to emphasize broader themes of communication and responsibility.
Archbishop Abegunrin strongly criticized the manner in which the cathedral was shut down. According to him, the ministry’s approach was abrupt, lacking in proper protocol and civility.
He expressed frustration that the church was neither given prior notice nor an official warning before the enforcement action was taken. “There was no information, no notice, no ultimatum,” he said, adding that the ministry first sealed the church’s toilet facilities before proceeding to chain the main entrance to the cathedral.
The archbishop further stated that when church representatives sought clarity, officials identified themselves as agents from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and claimed to be acting on a petition submitted by a neighboring resident. However, when the church requested to see the petition, the officials refused to provide it.
In addition to sealing the premises, the church was instructed to pay a fine of ₦500,000 for the alleged environmental violations. The archbishop’s statement hinted at the church’s intention to engage constructively with the situation despite their grievances about the process.
On the other hand, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Sunday Ojelabi, confirmed the enforcement action during a separate response.
He explained that the ministry’s decision was based on a petition from a neighbor who reported long-standing problems concerning air pollution and improper sewage discharge from the church’s property.
“We sealed the church on Tuesday after inspecting the site on Monday,” Ojelabi stated, adding that the neighbor’s complaint alleged the environmental issues had persisted since the previous year.
Mr. Ojelabi also commented on the fine imposed on the church, defending it as a standard statutory penalty mandated by environmental laws. He emphasized that the ₦500,000 fine was to be paid directly into government coffers and not to any individual account.
“It’s a government code, not my personal account,” he clarified. “The law empowers us to act immediately in cases deemed to be public health emergencies. This was one such case.”
He acknowledged that although the ministry had sealed the entrance, church officials had forcefully reopened it, complicating the enforcement efforts.
Amidst the controversy, Archbishop Abegunrin used the occasion of World Communications Day to appeal to media professionals, urging them to harness their influence responsibly.
He stressed the power of words and images in shaping societal values and perceptions. “Your words and images shape society,” he said. “They can build or break, heal or harm. Let your platforms reflect what is noble and true.”
His remarks highlighted the profound influence of media in shaping societal attitudes and underscored the importance of ethical communication in fostering community cohesion.