The Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) has taken a decisive decision against two Chinese companies by sealing off their premises due to alleged environmental violations.
The companies are Yibao Industrial Limited and Ronchang Industrial Park, located in different parts of the state. They are accused of operating in unsanitary conditions and improperly disposing waste.
Abayomi Hunye, the Special Adviser to the Governor and Managing Director of OGWAMA, led an enforcement team to the sites, where the companies were found to be in breach of the Ogun State Waste Management Law of 2020.
Hunye revealed that despite multiple warnings regarding their non-compliance, the companies failed to take corrective measures.
The violations included littering their premises with waste and engaging unauthorized waste collectors, both of which are in direct violation of Section 17 of the Ogun State Waste Management Law.
Hunye stressed that the government’s actions were necessary to uphold environmental standards and protect public health.
The companies are situated at Bara Village along the Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway and Ewu-Osile, opposite the Julius Berger yard on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Ogun State government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all businesses within the state comply with environmental regulations and maintain proper waste management practices.
Hunye cautioned that similar actions would be taken against any other companies found violating environmental laws in the state.
“The purpose of shutting them down is to ensure compliance with the standard waste management practices in the state.
“We have issued them several notices and warnings, but they refused to comply. We even conducted multiple inspections to advise them to clean their environment and engage government-approved waste collectors, but they remained defiant.
“Both companies engage unaccredited waste collectors who lack the capacity to manage their waste. As a result, their premises are dirty, exposing residents of the state to foul odors and potential underground water contamination from untreated waste.
“We had no choice but to shut them down in the public’s best interest, as their actions display gross disrespect for constituted authority, especially from foreign-owned companies intent on damaging our environment,” he said.
Hunye warned that any company found guilty of similar violations, whether owned by Nigerians or foreigners, would face sanctions.
