The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in collaboration with Ogun State Ministry of Environment has sealed off recycling facilities in Ogijo community in Ogun State.
The enforcement action is aimed at curbing environmental pollution and safeguarding public health across Nigeria.
In a statement, the Assistant Director Press NESREA, Mrs Nwamaka Ejiofor said the sealing follows the failure of the operators to comply with the provisions of the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024 and the Protocol developed by NESREA to ensure environmentally sound management of used lead acid batteries and safeguard the health of residents and the environment.
“Under the protocol, the facilities committed to managing ULAB slag and base metal residue in a safe, environmentally sound, and socially responsible manner. They also pledged to prioritise staff health and safety, including annual blood lead testing and the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
“As part of their duty to the host community and environmental responsibility, the recyclers are to conduct annual environmental impact audits of surrounding communities, transition to cleaner recycling technologies, and participate in pilot projects for the reuse of slag in bricks and cement raw materials, she said.
Ejiofor stated that NESREA in collaboration with Ogun State government and other partners under the Project for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling (PROBAMET) had carried out extensive assessment and sensitisation of the operators in the sector on international best practices in the recycling sector.
Lateefah Ibrahim