The Kwara State Government has directed an immediate statewide anti-snake fumigation exercise across residential buildings, institutions and other regulated premises as part of efforts to protect residents from increasing snake attacks.
The directive was issued through the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) on Saturday following reports of rising snakebite incidents in parts of the state.
In a statement by the agency’s Press Secretary, Aliyu Amode, property owners and operators of regulated premises were instructed to comply with the directive without delay.
The General Manager of KWEPA, Jide Aina, said the measure was adopted as a preventive step to reduce the presence of snakes around homes, schools, offices and other facilities across the state.
According to him, strengthening environmental safety practices is necessary to protect lives and ensure a healthier living environment for residents.
“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,” Aina said.
He explained that the fumigation exercise forms part of broader precautionary efforts aimed at reducing the likelihood of snake encounters in populated areas.
Aina also urged residents to maintain proper environmental sanitation around their homes to discourage reptiles from inhabiting such spaces.
He advised property owners and occupants to adopt proper waste disposal practices and avoid conditions that could create habitats for harmful animals.
The KWEPA boss further emphasised that environmental safety guidelines must be strictly observed to prevent avoidable hazards and safeguard communities.
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He called on community leaders, landlords and residents to support the government’s campaign by clearing bushes and overgrown vegetation that often serve as hiding places for snakes.
The 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.
The development comes amid growing concerns nationwide over the availability of snakebite antivenom in hospitals following the death of Ifunanya Nwangene, a 25-year-old Nigerian singer popularly known as Nanyah.
Nwangene reportedly died on January 31, 2026, after being bitten by a cobra in her Abuja apartment while sleeping.
She was said to have died after being taken to hospital, raising concerns about emergency response and the availability of antivenom in health facilities.
Public health advocates have since renewed calls for improved access to anti-snake venom across the country, warning that delays in treatment often lead to preventable deaths.