Ogun State Starts Ogijo Clean-Up Over Lead Concerns

The Ogun State Government has started a clean-up operation in Ogijo. This follows reports of lead contamination from used lead-acid battery recycling plants in the area.

A statement released on Sunday mentioned that this clean-up came after checking the recycling facilities and testing soil, water, air, and blood samples from residents. These tests aimed to find out how much contamination had occurred.

Kehinde Bello, the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, launched the clean-up. He said the government is removing dangerous waste that was dumped illegally near the recycling sites.

"The removal of this waste will take us weeks because a lot was dumped in many communities around the used lead-acid battery facilities.

"The state government is committed to removing them for the safety of residents," Bello said.

He promised residents that illegal dumping will not be allowed anymore. He added that all recycling facilities must improve their processes. They need to use automatic battery breakers to lower the amount of waste produced.

Bello also said the facilities must follow the state’s rules on managing waste to stop future contamination.

Babatunde Lawal, the Director of Hazardous Material Management at OGEPA, spoke about the clean-up. He said it will not just focus on removing waste but also on cleaning up contaminated land.

"We will also start planting vegetation that can absorb any lead left in the soil. This will help make the areas where waste was dumped safe again," he said.

Lawal urged battery recycling operators to work in a responsible way to protect public health and the environment.

Tunde Bolarinwa, the Director of Inspectorate and Compliance at OGEPA, said the agency will watch the facilities closely to ensure they follow the new state rules.

"The agency will keep checking the used lead-acid battery facilities to make sure they meet the new operational standards. Any facility that does not follow the new rules will face penalties," Bolarinwa said.

This clean-up comes months after PUNCH Metro reported that Ogun State set up a 15-member Joint Monitoring Committee. This committee is in place to address claims of lead poisoning in Ogijo.

The committee will watch the activities of battery recycling facilities, help the community report health issues linked to these plants, and ensure compliance with environmental rules to protect public health.