Environment: Ogun State shuts recycling firm, warns other companies against industrial pollution

*Ola Oresanya, Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, explains the state government shuts Maths Metal Recycling Limited, in Sagamu, for deliberately, puncturing holes at the back of its premises to discharge the contaminated oil into its immediate environment, causing harm to residents while polluting the underground water in the area

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In spite of several warnings to the company, the Ogun State Government (OGSG) says it has shut Maths Metal Recycling Limited, in Sagamu, for industrial pollution after the firm “deliberately released contaminated oil” into its immediate environment in the ‘Gateway State’.

ConsumerConnect reports Mr. Ola Oresanya, Honourable Commissioner for Environment, in Ogun State, while commenting on the development, confirmed the OGSG had no option than to shut the company as several warnings to the company was not heeded by its Management, thereby causing grievous harm to the health of residents of its immediate environment.

Oresanya said the recycling company deliberately, punctured holes at the back of its premises to discharge the contaminated oil into its immediate environment instead of installing retention tanks within its premises where the bad oil and other solvents are supposed to be treated.

The Commissioner for Environment noted: “By doing this, the Management of Maths Metal has not only caused pollution, but has committed criminal act that are punishable under the Ogun State Environmental Sanitation Laws as their deliberate action has adversely affected residents of  community living around them.

“The state government will now have to establish the extent of damage done to the well-being of members of the community especially the percolation of the contaminated oil on their underground water.”

He further revealed that after strict assessment, the Ogun State Government would determine whether any remediation could be done for which the recycling company would be made to pay while other corrective actions may be considered as deterrent.

Oresanya took the opportunity to warn other industries operating in the state against pollution and other environmental infractions.

It will not be business as usual, as the state government will not shy away from protecting the residents, especially the vulnerable ones from any environmental hazards, the Commissioner asserted.

He equally restated the government’s resolve to backlist consultants that connived with them to commit these infractions, and threatened to report them to the Federal authorities for possible nationwide sanctions.

Maths Metals Recycling Limited, incorporated 2012, a subsidiary of Dofic & Co. Metals Limited which has been in metals business since 1991.

The company, located along Shagamu-Ikorodu Road, in Sagamu, is mainly into Aluminium, Construction, Distributorship of Solid Minerals and offering Aluminium Scrap, Copper Material, Scrap, Aluminium Fabrication, Aluminium Recycling and Metal Waste Management.