The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed 29 facilities across Ekiti, Osun, and Ogun States for serious breaches of national environmental laws, including hazardous pollution linked to illnesses and deaths from lead contamination.
Announcing the enforcement action in Abuja, NESREA Director-General, Prof. Innocent Barikor, said the facilities were shut down following laboratory reports that confirmed lead pollution from improperly managed recycling and industrial activities.
“The closures were necessary to safeguard public health and halt operations of facilities that continue to endanger surrounding communities,” Barikor said.
He explained that the affected recycling plants violated the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations, 2024, particularly through unsafe disposal of hazardous slag from battery processing, posing severe risks to public health.
Despite multiple interventions by federal and state environment ministries, NESREA, state agencies, NGOs, and development partners, Barikor said many facilities refused to adopt environmentally friendly technologies.
“A recent inspection tour revealed blatant disregard for environmental laws. Some of these operators clearly had no intention of complying,” he noted.
Violations identified across the facilities included the absence of Environmental Audit Reports (EAR), Environmental Impact Statements, and other required permits. Many lacked fume treatment plants, discharged black oil indiscriminately, practiced poor slag and waste management, and engaged in manual battery breaking without adequate safety measures. Several facilities also failed to conduct blood-lead testing for their workers and did not comply with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme.
In Ogijo, Ogun State, nine battery recycling plants were sealed: Vedanta Metal Industries Limited, Metal Manufacturing Nigeria Limited, African Non-Ferrous Limited, True Metals Nigeria Limited, BPL Nigeria Limited, Hanushi Manufacturing Limited, Pristine Elt. Pvt. Limited, Timto Alu Company Limited, and Ecomade Industries Limited.
In the construction and quarrying sector, operations were halted in Ota, Osogbo, Ede, Ilesha Road, Papalanto, and Egbedore LGA. The affected companies include Laralek Ultimate Limited, Visible Construction Limited, Strabic Construction Limited, Areatech Construction Limited, Medaville Construction Limited, Adron Homes & Properties, Paris Park Garden, Buckingham Parks and Garden, S & M Nigeria Ltd, Step Development Ltd, Hitech Construction Limited, Craneburg Construction Company Limited, and SLAVABOGU Nigeria Limited.
Within the domestic and industrial plastics sector, facilities such as Polo Good International Company Ltd, Meibalun International Limited, Jomoo International Industrial Limited, Zhong Ju Nigeria Limited, and Vanke Machinery Limited were sealed for operating without environmental approvals, failing to submit compliance reports, and refusing to install fume abatement technology.
In Osogbo, GS Agriculture Limited was shut down for violating the National Environmental (Food, Beverages, and Tobacco Sector) Regulations, 2009. West Stone and Marble Processing Company Limited in Ikirun and Icheetah Nigeria Limited in Abeokuta were also sealed for failing to submit Environmental Audit Reports and other non-compliance issues.
Enforcement also extended to Solomon Kensington Agro Allied in Iperu-Remo, which was shut for multiple violations, including the failure to install an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), operate with proper environmental documentation, or provide NESREA with a comprehensive list of animal species under its care.
Prof. Barikor emphasized that NESREA would no longer plead with companies to comply with environmental laws. “Our duty to Nigerians is a solemn responsibility. When facilities refuse to comply, they will face the full weight of the law,” he said.
He reaffirmed NESREA’s commitment to protecting lives, public health, and the environment through strict enforcement of national environmental standards.
