Alleged lead poisoning – Ogun govt sets up joint monitoring committee
Ogun State Forms Committee to Address Lead Poisoning in Ogijo
The Ogun State government has established a 15-member Joint Monitoring Committee aimed at eliminating pollution, particularly lead poisoning, in Ogijo and surrounding areas.
Ola Oresanya, the state Commissioner for Environment, announced the formation of the committee during its inauguration on Wednesday. According to Oresanya, the committee members were chosen based on their close proximity to Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULAB) recycling facilities, which have been linked to the reported cases of lead poisoning. Their selection also reflects their active involvement in recent community engagements in Ogijo.
The committee will oversee the activities of ULAB facilities, facilitate the reporting of environmental and health issues, and promote transparency in remediation efforts within the Ogijo community.
Oresanya emphasized the importance of community involvement in environmental protection, stating, “Environmental protection cannot be achieved through regulation alone. It requires community vigilance, shared responsibility, and mutual trust.” He urged committee members to act responsibly in the interests of public health and environmental sustainability.
Addressing ULAB operators, he added, “Your economic activities must never compromise human health or environmental integrity. Compliance with environmental health and safety standards is mandatory. Facilities that fail to meet prescribed requirements will not be allowed to operate.”
Kehinde Bello, General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), encouraged stakeholders to support the government’s efforts in restoring environmental compliance in Ogijo and assured them of his agency’s backing for the committee’s initiatives.
Oba Kazim Gbadamosi, the Ologijo of Ogijo, called for adherence to environmental safety standards among ULAB operators and urged committee members to diligently fulfill their responsibilities.
Jack Peniel, the South-West Director of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), pledged that the national agency would enforce strict compliance with environmental standards to help restore a safe environment in Ogijo.
