Oyo State Government Reopens Industrial Facility Sealed For Pollution
From Olubunmi Osoteku
The Oyo State Government has reopened an industrial company engaging in the recycling of waste tyres to produce Pyrolysis oil and carbon black and steel wire as by-products.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, says the company, sealed early this month over non-conformity and adherence to acceptable environmental laws of the state, was reopened on Wednesday.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, had, in the early hours of Wednesday, directed that the facility, Shri-Balaji Industry Limited, be unsealed.
Mogbonjubola disclosed that the Ministry had recently held a tripartite meeting with the facility owner, and the leadership of the Manufacturing Association Of Nigeria (MAN), over the Action Plans submitted by the management of Shri-Balaji Industry Limited.
He stated: “The Action Plans which the trio of the Ministry, Shri-Balaji Industry Limited and Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), unanimously accepted and agreed upon includes the immediate provisions of medical retainership for all workers and regular checkup, provision of pollution abatement systems and scrubbers, including raising the heights of exhaust systems and reconfiguration of production systems for pollution reduction and cleaner production process.
“Provision of appropriate personal protective equipment for all workers, adequate storage of the carbon black within a bund wall with shelter to prevent indiscriminate escape of leachate and encourage cleanliness, rehabilitation of oil water separators, improved aesthetic and sanitation, submission of environmental audit reports and monthly environmental reports,” the commissioner noted.
Mogbonjubola reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Seyi Makinde to ensuring a safe and conducive environment for all, charging facility owners to ensure compliance to the state and national nnvironmental laws.
The statement discloses that Shri-Balaji Industry paid about N1.5million to the state government coffers for the sanction, and N200,000 to unseal the facility, while the consultant paid a fine of N500,000 for negligence of duty to guide the facility into compliance.
The reopened facility was further given a time-line, in stages to work on completing the Action Plans which should be improved upon going forward.
While reacting to the reopening of the facility, the General Manager of Shri-Balaji, Mr Razaq, appreciated the state government for showing optimal understanding and good gesture towards the company, which would allow its workers to immediately resume duty.
