CITIZENS COMPASS–The Ogun State government has shut down five companies on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
While three of the industries were shut for environmental infractions, two were shut for operating illegally in the Ogere axis of the Lagos -Ibadan Expressway.
The companies were Nixim Paper Limited, and Long Xiang Aluminum both at the Sagamu axis of the Lagos -Ibadan Expressway and New Shidai Manufacturing Limited, Mowe in the Obafemi Owode local government area of the state.
Chairman of the Ogun State Taskforce on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, Farook Akintunde, who led the enforcement team during the week said they were shut down after the Environmental Protection Agency received complaints from the surrounding communities about their constant release of untreated wastewater into the environment.
The Chairman who doubles as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, noted that the companies had been issued a Stop Work Order but this was ignored hence, the Taskforce stormed the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to enforce the law.
He said, “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.”
“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 ETP which they must have and installed to stop their incessant and harmful wastewater discharge.”
Oluwadare Kehinde, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), stated that following multiple warnings, the company would now be required to comply with the state’s wastewater regulations, which are essential for preventing water pollution and maintaining water quality standards.
“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”
He stated that 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.
