By IBUKUN EMIOLA

The Oyo State Hospitals’ Management Board (OYSHMB) has disowned a fake online circular requesting applications for internship and housemanship programmes in the state owned hospitals.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Ibadan, the board described the circular as false, misleading and the handiwork of fraudsters seeking to deceive unsuspecting applicants.

It clarified that it had not commenced any recruitment process for internship or housemanship programmes, advising members of the public to disregard the publication.

The board urged students, parents and the general public to ignore the fake circular and rely only on official information.

The Permanent Secretary of the board, Dr Anifat Ibraheem, advised members of the public seeking information on internships, the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) and other programmes to visit the Oyo State Hospitals’ Management Board at the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

“The Board is open to enquiries and clarifications on all its programmes,” Ibraheem said.

In another development, the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA) has said if had intensified enforcement against illegal livestock and agricultural activities in Akobo, Ibadan.

This is contained in a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Dotun Oyelade, on Wednesday in Ibadan.

According to the statement, this is with a view to protect public health and ensure compliance with environmental laws.

The authority said that the enforcement exercise was being carried out in collaboration with the Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and relevant security agencies.

It said that during a compliance assessment visit to the Mercy Rock area, officials observed that several residents and property owners, who had earlier been served a 21-day abatement notice, failed to comply with its directives.

The authority said a final 14-day abatement notice had been served on the defaulters, warning that full enforcement would commence immediately after the expiration of the notice.

It added that the enforcement team also inspected a poultry farm in the Ifesowapo, Yawiri area following a petition by residents over alleged environmental nuisance.

“The inspection revealed that the poultry farm, located within a densely populated residential area, emitted offensive odour and operated poor waste management practices, including indiscriminate accumulation of poultry droppings.

“Environmental Health Officers identified the facility as a potential breeding ground for disease-causing pathogens, warning that the conditions could lead to outbreaks of cholera and other communicable diseases if not addressed,” the statement read.

The authority said the owner of the poultry farm had been served a 14-day abatement notice and directed to rectify all identified environmental infractions in line with the state’s environmental sanitation laws.

It reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting environmental compliance and maintaining a clean, safe and healthy environment across Oyo State.

The authority warned that individuals and organisations that fail to comply with its directives within the stipulated period would face appropriate enforcement measures in accordance with the laws of the state. (NAN)