The Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) has sealed off two Chinese-owned companies for alleged environmental violations, including improper waste disposal and operating in unsanitary conditions.
The companies, Yibao Industrial Limited located in Bara Village along the Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway, and Ronchang Industrial Park, situated opposite Julius Berger Yard on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, were shut down following repeated warnings from the state government.
Leading the enforcement action, Abayomi Hunye, Special Adviser to the Governor and Managing Director of OGWAMA, emphasized that the closure was a necessary step after the companies ignored multiple notices and failed to comply with environmental regulations.
In a statement released on Sunday, Hunye accused the companies of violating Section 17 of the Ogun State Waste Management Law of 2020. “These companies littered their premises with waste and employed unaccredited waste collectors, actions that clearly contravene our state’s waste management laws,” Hunye stated.
The OGWAMA chief underscored the importance of proper waste management, noting that the companies’ actions posed serious health risks to residents, including exposure to unpleasant odors and potential underground water contamination from untreated waste.
“The closure is intended to enforce compliance with the state’s waste management standards.
Despite multiple inspections and counseling sessions, the companies refused to clean up their premises or engage government-approved waste collectors,” Hunye explained.
He further condemned the companies’ disregard for the law, particularly as foreign-owned businesses. “Their behavior shows a gross disrespect for constituted authority, and this is unacceptable, especially when it endangers public health,” Hunye added.
Hunye issued a stern warning to other companies, stating that any business—whether Nigerian or foreign-owned—found guilty of similar environmental violations would face similar sanctions.
The action reflects Ogun State’s commitment to maintaining environmental standards and ensuring that all businesses, regardless of ownership, adhere to the laws designed to protect the health and well-being of its residents.
