Ogun Seals Off Chinese Companies Over ‘Improper Waste Disposal’

The Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) has taken decisive action against two Chinese companies, sealing off their premises for alleged environmental violations.

The companies, Yibao Industrial Limited and Ronchang Industrial Park, located in different areas of the state, were accused of operating in unsanitary conditions and improperly disposing of waste.

The Special Adviser to the Governor and Managing Director of OGWAMA, Abayomi Hunye, led an enforcement team to the sites, where the companies were found to be in violation of the Ogun State Waste Management Law of 2020.

Hunye stated that the companies had been warned multiple times about their non-compliance but failed to take corrective actions.

The violations included littering their premises with waste and engaging unauthorized waste collectors, both of which contravene Section 17 of the Ogun State Waste Management Law.

Hunye emphasized that the government’s actions were necessary to enforce environmental standards and protect public health.

The companies are located 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 reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all businesses in the state adhere to environmental laws and maintain proper waste management practices.

Hunye warned that similar actions would be taken against any other companies found violating environmental regulations in the state.

“The essence of shutting them down is to ensure that they comply with the standard ways of managing wastes in the state.

“We have served them several notices and warnings and they refused to comply. We have even gone to their premises for inspections severally to counsel them to clean their environment and engage government approved waste collectors but they were unyielding.

“They both engage unaccredited waste collectors who have no capacity to manage their waste. That is why their premises are dirty thereby exposing residents of the state to unnecessary odour and possible underground water infections from their untreated waste.

“So we have no alternative than to shut them down in the overriding public interest as their behavior and action smacks of gross disrespect to constituted authority especially from companies owned by foreigners who are hellbent destroying our environment,” he said.

Hunye warned that any company found guilty of similar violations would be sanctioned whether it is owned by Nigerians or foreigners.