The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed 29 facilities across the South-West for environmental pollution and violations of Nigeria’s environmental laws.
In a statement signed by Mrs Nwamaka Ejiofor, Assistant Director of Press at NESREA, the enforcement action affected nine recycling facilities in Ogijo, Ogun State, and 20 other firms in Ekiti, Osun, and Ogun.
Among those shut are Vedanta Metal Industries Limited, Metal Manufacturing Nigeria Limited, and Laralek Ultimate Limited (Arc Legacy Project) in Ogun; S & M Nigeria Limited and Step Development Limited in Ekiti; and SLAVABOGU Nigeria Limited in Osun.
Director-General of NESREA, Prof Innocent Barikor, said the drastic action was necessary because the affected recyclers continued to endanger the lives of citizens and the environment through reckless operations.
“The situation in Ogijo has been of concern due to the harmful activities of battery and scrap metal recyclers. Improper disposal of hazardous slag from battery recycling threatens environmental degradation and public health risks from toxic lead content. Tests have revealed the presence of lead in residents, resulting in illnesses and deaths,” Barikor stated.
He explained that the facilities failed to adopt best available technologies, flouted the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024, and ignored several intervention efforts involving federal and state environment ministries, NESREA, state environmental agencies, and development partners.
According to Barikor, the offences include lack of environmental audit reports, permits, and impact statements; absence of fume treatment plants; indiscriminate discharge of black oil; poor slag management; manual battery breaking; and failure to comply with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme.
He stressed that NESREA will no longer appeal to defaulting operators but will enforce the law without compromise.
“Our duty to Nigerians is a solemn responsibility. We are no longer appealing to any facility to comply with the laws. When you refuse to obey, you face the consequences. We will not hesitate to enforce the law,” he warned.
The agency vowed that the clampdown would continue nationwide to safeguard public health and protect the environment from hazardous industrial practices.