The Kwara State Government has directed an immediate statewide anti-snake fumigation exercise across residential buildings, institutions and other regulated premises as part of measures to safeguard residents from the growing threat of snake attacks.
The PUNCH reports that the directive was issued through the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency on Saturday, following reports of increasing snake bite incidents recorded in parts of the state.
A statement issued by the Press Secretary of the agency, Aliyu Amode, said all property owners and operators of regulated premises are expected to comply with the directive without delay.
The General Manager of the agency, Jide Aina, said the decision was taken as a preventive public safety measure to reduce the presence of snakes around homes, schools, offices and other facilities across Kwara.
Aina stressed that environmental safety practices must be strengthened in order to protect lives and ensure a healthier living environment for residents across the state.
“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,” he said.
He further explained that the exercise forms part of broader precautionary efforts aimed at reducing the likelihood of snake encounters in populated areas.
“The fumigation exercise is a precautionary measure aimed at reducing the presence of snakes around homes, offices, schools, and other regulated premises across Kwara State,” he added.
The GM also urged residents to take proactive environmental sanitation measures around their homes to discourage reptiles from inhabiting such spaces.
He said , “Property owners and occupants were further advised to maintain proper sanitation and ensure that waste disposal practices do not create habitats for harmful animals.”
He emphasised that environmental safety guidelines must be strictly observed to prevent avoidable hazards and protect communities.
Aina also called on community leaders, landlords and residents to support the government’s environmental safety campaign by clearing bushes and overgrown vegetation that often serve as hiding places for snakes.
KWEPA assured residents that it would continue monitoring environmental conditions across the state while implementing measures aimed at safeguarding public health and promoting environmental sustainability.
The development comes amid growing concerns nationwide 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, after being bitten by a snake (identified as a cobra) in her Abuja apartment.
She was reportedly bitten while sleeping and passed away after being taken to the hospital, highlighting issues with medical emergency responses and antivenom availability in the area.
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.