Skip to main content

Ogijo Pollution: NESREA Hold Talks With Recyclers, Threatens To Revoke Operational Licenses

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
In a fresh move to curtail rising air pollution across the country, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has engaged in series of talks with recyclers in Ogijo community. 

Ogijo, a community in Ogun State has been at the centre of mind-blowing environmental pollution given the activities of deviant recyclers.

To this end, the DG of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor threatened to revoke the operational licenses of recycling facilities that refused to comply with agreed protocol for remediation of Ogijo community. 

Barikor issued the warning on Monday during a meeting with recyclers, whose facilities were sealed in a recent clampdown on recalcitrant facilities in the South West Zone. 

News Rider reports that nine facilities operating in the battery recycling sector in Ogijo were sealed for causing environmental pollution in the community through poor slag management, manual battery breaking, uncontrolled lead dust emissions, lack of workers’ health surveillance, among others. 

The DG stated that the agency commenced enforcement action as a necessary step to safeguard lives and restore environmental integrity, saying that the facilities will remain sealed until verifiable corrective actions are taken.

Barikor informed the recyclers that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration remains committed to ensuring that Nigerians live in a healthy environment, warning that time was running out for errant facilities.

He added: "What we have at present is anarchic and not sustainable. This is your opportunity to reset, to demonstrate responsibility and to bring your facilities into full compliance. NESREA has shown patience in the past, but that window is closing."

On the next step, he said that: "The issue of slag evacuation is an emergency and polluter pays, therefore the operators must bear the cost of removal. 

"You are to sign an undertaken assenting to the agreed compliance protocol, process necessary documents and register with the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for the sector."

Barikor directed that the operators should commit to addressing facility specific environmental/ operational concerns, observe the penalties for indiscriminate dumping and non-compliance and take steps towards adopting cleaner technologies.

The Director, Hazardous Materials Management and Environmental Safety for Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) Lawal Babatunde accused the facilities of failing to abide by guidelines set out by the state government for the evacuation of slag from the community.

Present at the meeting were the Executive Secretary of the Alliance for Responsible Battery Recycling (ARBR), Mrs. Miranda Amachree and operators of facilities in the battery and base metal recycling sectors.

This was contained in a statement by the Assistant Director of Press, NESREA, Nwamaka Ejiofor on Tuesday in Abuja. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

EHCON Moves To Rebrand Environmental Health Sector Using Artificial Intelligence

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja   Dr Yakubu Baba The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has taken cogent steps to rebrand the environmental health sector using artificial intelligence.  Already, plans are underway to extend the initiative across the six geopolitical zones, as no community would be sidelined.  The Registrar of EHCON, Dr Yakubu Baba stated this in Abuja at a 3-day workshop organised by EHCON in collaboration with Afri-Tourism Investment Limited and West Africa Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA) with the theme: "AI-Driven Operations and Predictive Analysis." The essence of the workshop is to improve environmental health practice and prevent emerging diseases using artificial intelligent.   It is expected to empower Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) with the necessary digital skills needed to deepen environmental health practice and provide workable  solutions to problems.  Baba noted that integrating AI into environmental he...
Post a Comment
Read more

CCB, NILDS Endorse CIFCFIN Agenda To Eliminate Fraud

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Iliyasu Gashinbaki  The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) have endorsed the agenda of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), aimed at eliminating fraud from systems of government.  This was one of the major highlights during the Institute’s 13th Direct Training/Licensed Practitioners Training/graduation and award of Fellowship at NILDS headquarters, Abuja.  Speaking after his investiture as an Honourary Fellow of the Institute, Chairman of CCB, Dr. Abdullahi Bello noted that CIFICFIN embodies excellence, integrity and a steadfast commitment to combating fraud and upholding justice. He pointed out that to be recognised and honoured as a fellow of the institute is a privilege that he will cherish and carry with great responsibility.  “As the Chief Executive of CCB, I am reminded of the critical role we play in fosterin...
Post a Comment
Read more

EHCON Seals Deal With EPHAN On Sustainable Environmental Solutions

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja L-R- Registrar/ CEO of EHCON Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Baba and President of EPHAN, Dr. Samuel Akingbehin during a strategic engagement session on Friday in Abuja. In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has sealed a deal with Public Health Association of Nigeria (EPHAN) on sustainable environmental solutions.  The partnership wlll also bolster  speedy implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on environmental and public health.  News Rider reports that SDG 3 places emphasis on good health and well-being through the reduction of noncommunicable diseases, combatting waterborne diseases.; as well as lowers death and illness from exposure to hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution.  This is even as SDG 6 guarantees clean water and sanitation through universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation.  Addressing the media du...
Post a Comment
Read more