Ogun shuts 5 companies over environmental infractions, illegal operations

*Farook Akintunde, Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Environment and Chairman of the Ogun State Taskforce on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, confirms the government shuts three industries for environmental infractions, and two unregistered companies in the Ogere axis along the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Ogun State Government (OGSG) of Nigeria, again, has sealed off three industries for environmental infractions, and two other companies for operating illegally in the Ogere axis of the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway.

The companies are Nixim Paper Limited, and Long Xiang Aluminum both located in the Sagamu axis along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and New Shidai Manufacturing Limited, located in Mowe, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Farook Akintunde, Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Environment and Chairman of the Ogun State Taskforce on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, led the enforcement team during the week, according to report.

Akintunde reportedly saud that the government shut the three affected companies after the Environmental Protection Agency received complaints from the surrounding communities about their constant release of untreated wastewater polluting the environment.

The Chairman of the Taskforce also confirmed that hitherto, the erring companies had been issued a Stop Work Order, which was ignored.

“This was confirmed by OGEPA, which issued a Stop Work Order for them to stop production and correct the anomaly. “Instead of obeying the order, they ignored it, and continued to degrade the environment with the discharge of their harmful untreated wastewater into their immediate communities,” stated he.

Akintunde further said: “The state government was, therefore, left with no options than to shut them down in the overriding public interest and compelled them to stop their harmful environmental practice as it was also discovered that they don’t have Effluent Treatment Plants, ETPs, which they must have and installed to stop their incessant and harmful wastewater discharge.”

In the same vein, Oluwadare Kehinde, Special Adviser to the Governor on Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), stated that following multiple warnings, the companies would be required to comply with the state’s wastewater regulations.

Kehinde noted this measure is essential to prevent water pollution and maintaining water quality standards.

The governor’s aide stated: “OGEPA will not compromise on this as it will continue to demand from industries best environmental standard in all they do, as enunciated in the Ogun State Green Book, which contains the laws guiding environmental practices in the state.”

Besides, the two unregistered companies must do proper registration with the state government and fulfil other operational obligations before they can be allowed to operate in the state, Kehinde added.