Osun govt threatens to shut Steel Mill over pollution

The Osun State Government has threatened to shut down the operation of Prism Steel Mills, Ikirun, if it does not comply with the health and safety recommendations.

The state gave the warning on Friday during an inspection tour of officials of the State’s Ministry of Environment and Sanitation to the industry.

The officials of the state Government had, last year, conducted an Environmental Audit on the facilities of Prism Steel Mills, Ikirun, and Ife Iron and Steel Company.

The state government recommended that the Steel Mills should, among other things, install a Pollution Abatement Plant (PAP) to considerably reduce the effect of steel production from metal scraps on the atmosphere, environment, and human life.

The Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Sola Oladepo, who led other top officers of the Ministry on the inspection tour on Friday, however expressed concerns about the level of Prism Steel Mills to the directives of the government.

Oladepo said although that had been an improvement in the management of emissions from the Site, the government expected that actions be expedited on the recommendations for the overall protection of human health, vegetation and the environment in general.

He, however, warned that the government will not hesitate to shut down the company if they fail to meet the requirements of the recommendations within the stipulated time.