Ogun Govt Shutdown Recycling Company, Warns Others Against Industrial Pollution

Ogun State Government has shutdown the operations of a company based in Sagamu, Maths Metal  Recycling Limited, for industrial pollution, accusing  the outfit of  deliberately releasing  contaminated oil into its immediate environment.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya said the State Government had no option than to shut the company as  several warnings to the company was not heeded by its management thereby causing grievous harm to people living in its immediate environment.

According to him,the recycling company deliberately punctured holes at the back of its premises to discharge the contaminated oil into its immediate environment instead of installing retention tanks within its premises where the bad oil and other solvents are supposed to be treated.

"By doing this,the management of Maths Metal has not only caused pollution but has committed criminal act that are punishable under the Ogun State Environmental Sanitation Laws as their deliberate action has adversely affected residents of  community living around them", Oresanya stated 

"The state government will now have to establish the extent of damage done to the well-being of members of the community especially the percolation of the contaminated oil on their underground water", he added

He further revealed that after strict assessment, the state government would determine whether any remediation can be done which the recycling company will be made to pay for while other corrective actions may be considered as deterrent.

Oresanya also used the opportunity to warn other industries operating in the state against pollution and other environmental infractions saying it will not be business as usual as the state government would not shy away from protecting her  residents especially the vulnerable ones from any environmental hazards.

He also reiterates government resolve to backlist consultants that connived with them to commit these infractions and threatened to report them to the federal authorities for possible nationwide sanctions.