Ogun State officials have initiated a cleanup program to eliminate lead contamination in Ogijo and surrounding areas. This effort follows a comprehensive audit of Used Lead Acid Battery (ULAB) facilities, alongside rigorous testing of local soil, water, air, and resident blood samples.
Kehinde Bello, General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), announced that the government has started removing hazardous slag deposited across the town. He explained that this process will take several weeks due to the volume of waste illegally discarded near industrial sites. To prevent future issues, the state has mandated that ULAB plants adopt automated battery breaking technology to minimize slag production.
Babatunde Lawal, Director of Hazardous Material Management, added that the cleanup extends beyond simple removal. The agency plans to utilize bio-remediation by planting vegetation capable of absorbing residual lead from the soil. Furthermore, Tunde Bolarinwa, Director of Inspectorate and Compliance, warned that authorities will strictly monitor these facilities. Any entity failing to adhere to the new operational guidelines will face formal sanctions.
