The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency has sealed 29 facilities in Ogun, Ekiti, and Osun states for violating environmental laws.
The agency, in a statement signed by its Assistant Director of Press, Nwamaka Ejiofor, said nine of the affected facilities were in Ogijo, Ogun State.
NESREA’s Director General, Prof. Innocent Barikor, explained that the move was necessary to stop harmful practices that pose serious risks to the environment and public health.
“The situation in Ogijo has been of concern due to the harmful activities of battery and scrap metal recyclers. Improper disposal of hazardous slag from battery recycling threatens environmental degradation and public health risks from toxic lead content. Tests have revealed the presence of lead in residents, resulting in illnesses and deaths,” Barikor said.
He noted that despite several interventions involving state and federal environment ministries, NGOs, and development partners, many operators failed to comply with the law.
“But a recent tour of the community revealed total disregard for environmental laws of the land, a clear signal that some of these facilities do not have any intention of complying, and their continued operation is a big threat to the health of residents and the environment in which they live,” he added.
The facilities were sealed for offences such as lack of environmental documents, absence of fume treatment plants, poor slag management, indiscriminate oil discharge, failure to carry out blood-lead tests for staff, and non-compliance with the Extended Producer Responsibility programme.
Among those sealed in Ogijo, Ogun State are: Vedanta Metal Industries Limited, Metal Manufacturing Nigeria Limited, African Non-Ferrous Limited, True Metals Nigeria Limited, BPL Nigeria Limited, Hanushi Manufacturing Limited, Pristine Elt. Pvt. Limited, Timto Alu Company Limited, and Ecomade Industries Limited.
The enforcement also affected the construction and quarry sectors, with 10 companies, including Laralek Ultimate Limited, Visible Construction Limited, Strabic Construction Limited, Areatech Construction Limited, Medaville Construction Limited, and Adron Homes & Properties, shut down for operating without proper documents.
In the plastic sector, five facilities were sealed, including Polo Good Intl Company Ltd, Meibalun International Limited, Jomoo International Industrial Limited, Zhong Ju Nigeria Limited, and Vanke Machinery Limited.
One food company, GS Agriculture Limited in Osogbo, was sealed for violating food, beverage, and tobacco environmental laws. West Stone and Marble Processing Company Limited in Ikirun was shut down for failing to submit its Environmental Audit Report.
Other sealed facilities include Icheetah Nigeria Limited in Abeokuta for flouting vehicle assembly regulations, and Solomon Kensington Agro Allied in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, for violating endangered species protection laws.
Barikor stressed that the closures were to protect lives and enforce accountability. “These facilities were closed for violating the provisions of the National Environmental Regulations, and their continued operation undermines the law while exposing Nigerians to danger,” he said.
