The Ogun State Waste Management Authority has sealed off two Chinese companies for allegedly violating the state’s environmental laws.
In a statement on Sunday, the Authority explained that the action was taken after multiple warnings to the companies were ignored.
The government noted that the companies also refused to engage accredited waste collectors to properly manage their waste.
The companies in question are Yibao Industrial Limited, located at Bara Village along the Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway, and Ronchang Industrial Park, situated opposite the Julius Berger yard on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Managing Director of the Authority, Abayomi Hunye, led the enforcement team that sealed the companies.
Hunye accused the Chinese companies of littering their premises with waste, in violation of Section 17 of the Ogun State Waste Management Law of 2020.
He further stated that the two companies were also found guilty of engaging the services of unaccredited waste collectors to evacuate their waste in contravention of section 17 of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority Law of 2020.
“The purpose of shutting them down is to ensure they comply with the standard waste management practices in the state,” Hunye said.
“We issued several notices and warnings, yet they refused to comply. We even visited their premises multiple times to advise them to clean up their environment and engage government-approved waste collectors, but they were uncooperative.
“Both companies hired unaccredited waste collectors who lack the capacity to manage their waste. As a result, their premises remain dirty, exposing residents to unpleasant odors and potential contamination of underground water from untreated waste.
“We had no choice but to shut them down in the public interest, as their actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for authority, especially from foreign-owned companies intent on damaging our environment,” he added.
Hunye warned that any company, whether Nigerian or foreign-owned, found guilty of similar violations would face sanctions.