The Ogun State government has shut down three industries for environmental infractions, while two unregistered companies operating illegally in the Ogere axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were also shut down.
The companies affected are Nixim Paper Limited and Long Xiang Aluminum, both located in the Sagamu axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, as well as New Shidai Manufacturing Limited in Mowe, Obafemi Owode local government area.
Chairman of the Ogun State Taskforce on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, Farook Akintunde, who led the enforcement team, said the shutdown followed complaints from surrounding communities about the constant release of untreated wastewater into the environment by these companies.
Akintunde, who also serves as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, noted that a ‘Stop Work Order’ had been issued to the companies, but they ignored it.
He said, “This was confirmed by OGEPA, which issued a Stop Work Order for them to halt production and correct the anomaly. But instead, 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 compel them to stop their harmful environmental practices. It was also discovered that they don’t have Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP), which they must install to prevent the discharge of harmful wastewater.”
Oluwadare Kehinde, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), emphasized that the companies will now be required to comply with the state’s wastewater regulations, which are crucial for preventing water pollution and maintaining water quality standards.
“OGEPA will not compromise on this and will continue to demand the highest environmental standards from industries, as outlined in the Ogun State Green Book, which contains the laws guiding environmental practices in the state.”
He also stated that the two unregistered companies must complete proper registration with the state government and fulfill other operational obligations before they can resume operations.
