Kwara directs comprehensive snake eradication effort across the state

The Kwara State Government has initiated a statewide anti-snake fumigation exercise, targeting residential buildings, institutions, and regulated premises, in a bid to protect residents from the escalating threat of snake attacks.

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This directive, issued through the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency on Saturday, comes on the heels of reported increases in snake bite incidents across the state, as documented by The PUNCH.

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A statement released by Aliyu Amode, Press Secretary of the agency, emphasized that property owners and operators of regulated premises are expected to comply with the directive forthwith.

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Jide Aina, General Manager of the agency, explained that this decision was made as a preventive public safety measure, aimed at minimizing the presence of snakes in and around homes, schools, offices, and other facilities throughout Kwara.

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Aina underscored the importance of strengthening environmental safety practices to safeguard lives and ensure a healthier living environment for residents across the state.

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In a statement, Aina directed that "all regulated premises, institutions, and residential building owners across the state are hereby directed to immediately carry out anti-snake fumigation exercises as part of efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of residents."

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He further clarified that the exercise is part of broader precautionary efforts aimed at reducing the likelihood of snake encounters in populated areas, specifically designed to minimize the presence of snakes around homes, offices, schools, and other regulated premises across Kwara State.

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Aina also urged residents to take proactive environmental sanitation measures around their homes to discourage reptiles from inhabiting such spaces, advising property owners and occupants to maintain proper sanitation and ensure that waste disposal practices do not create habitats for harmful animals.

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He emphasized that environmental safety guidelines must be strictly observed to prevent avoidable hazards and protect communities, while also calling on community leaders, landlords, and residents to support the government's environmental safety campaign.

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Aina specifically requested that community leaders, landlords, and residents clear bushes and overgrown vegetation that often serve as hiding places for snakes, to bolster the government's efforts.

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The Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency assured residents that it would continue monitoring environmental conditions across the state, while implementing measures aimed at safeguarding public health and promoting environmental sustainability.

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This development comes amid nationwide concerns over the availability of snake bite venom in hospitals, following the death of Ifunanya Nwangene, a 25-year-old Nigerian singer known as Nanyah, who died on January 31, 2026.

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Nanyah was bitten by a cobra in her Abuja apartment while sleeping and passed away after being taken to the hospital, highlighting issues with medical emergency responses and antivenom availability in the area.

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Public health advocates have since renewed calls for improved access to anti-snake venom in medical facilities across the country, warning that delays in treatment often lead to preventable deaths.