CITIZENS COMPASS–The Ogun State Waste Management Authority, (OGWAMA) has seals two Chinese forms for improper refuse disposal.
The companies shut for improper refuse disposal were Yibao Industrial Limited, Bara village along the Sagamu-Abeokuta expressway and Ronchang Industrial Park, opposite Julius Berger yard, along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ewu-Osile.
The State government said apart from improper refuse disposal, the companies were sealed for operating in dirty environment.
OGWAMA said both companies had refused to engage accredited refuse collectors to properly manage their waste.
They were sealed by an enforcement team led by the Special Adviser and Managing Director of OGWAMA, Abayomi Hunye, who said the Agency was left with no option than to shut down the Chinese companies.
He said they were shut for improper refuse disposal following several warnings to clean their environment.
He said apart from improper refuse disposal, the companies’ premises were littered with wastes which contravene Section 17 of the Ogun State Waste Management Law 2020.
Still on the improper refuse disposal, he said both companies were also found guilty of engaging the services of unaccredited waste collectors to evacuate their waste in contravention of section 17 of Ogun State Waste Management Authority Law of 2020 as well as their continued prevention of the assigned waste collectors to evacuate their waste from their facilities since 2021.
The unaccredited waste collectors who operate at odd hours were also found guilty of dumping waste on the Sagamu-Abeokuta and Lagos-Ibadan expressways illegally.
Hunye said that “the essence of shutting down the companies was to ensure that they comply with the standard ways of managing wastes in the state.
“We have served them several notices and warnings and they refused to comply. We have even gone to their premises for inspections severally to counsel them to clean their environment and engage government approved waste collectors, but they were unyielding”.
“They both engage unaccredited waste collectors who have no capacities to manage their waste that is why their premises are dirty thereby exposing residents of the state to unnecessary odour and possible underground water infections from their untreated waste”.
“So, we have no alternative than to shut them down in the overriding public interest as their behavior and action smacks of gross disrespect to constituted authority especially from companies owned by foreigners who are hellbent in destroying our environment”.
“We will fold our hands and watch these companies destroy our common patrimony with their ‘I don’t care attitude’ which they will not try in their home country”.
Hunye therefore called on companies who are also guilty of the same offence as the Chinese companies, but are yet to be caught whether owned by Nigerians or foreigners and are operating in Ogun State to operate within the state’s waste management laws or be ready to be sanctioned.
“Proper waste management is key in Ogun State to continually promote healthier and safer living of our people. We will not compromise on this. All companies must therefore partner with us for proper management of their waste so that we all would be free from diseases emanating from improperly managed domestic or industrial waste”, he added.
He also used the opportunity to call on Communities Development Associations (CDAs) and other Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the state to complement OGWAMA’s efforts by acting as whistle-blowers so that more companies who are in the habit of improper waste management can be brought to justice to further enhance the quality life of residents of the state.
