Ogun State government, through the state Environmental Protection Agency, has closed five industries in the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that Chairman of Ogun State Taskforce on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement and Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Environment, Farook Akintunde revealed this through a statement released on Sunday in Abeokuta.
According to the statement; the state government closed down the five industries for breaching state environmental laws and endangering the lives of nearby communities.
The affected companies include Nixim Paper Limited and Long Xiang Aluminum in Sagamu area of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, New Shidai Manufacturing Limited in Mowe, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area (LGA), and two unregistered companies operating unlawfully in Ogere area of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The chairman said the companies were shut after Environmental Protection Agency received petitions from immediate communities of their incessant discharge of untreated wastewater into the environment.
He said, “This was confirmed by the state environmental protection agency which issued a Stop Work Order for them to stop production and correct the anomaly.”
“They chose to ignore the order and kept polluting the environment by releasing their untreated wastewater into the communities.”
“The state government had no choice but to close them down in the best interest of the public and force them to cease their damaging environmental actions, especially since they were found to lack Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) necessary to prevent their continuous harmful wastewater discharge.”
Special Adviser to the Governor on State Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde emphasised that “The company will be compelled to adhere to state wastewater regulations following repeated warnings to ensure water pollution prevention and uphold water quality standards.”
The statement concluded, “The state environmental protection agency is unwavering in its commitment to uphold the highest environmental standards from industries, as outlined in the Ogun State Green Book governing environmental practices in the state.”
“The two unregistered companies, as well as the three others that were sealed, are required to undergo proper registration with the state government and meet all operational requirements before being permitted to operate in the state.”
