Ogun govt orders temporary halt on lead ingot exports, shuts battery recycling plants in Ogijo
The Ogun State Government has called for an immediate temporary suspension of lead ingot exports from the state as part of urgent measures to address concerns over alleged lead contamination in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, during an inspection tour in Ogijo prompted by a viral video alleging hazardous contamination in the community.
Oresanya, accompanied by experts from the Ministries of Environment and Health, the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), revealed that seven industries involved in used lead-acid battery recycling in the area have been shut down.
Reassuring residents of the government’s commitment to public safety, the commissioner stated that a comprehensive health and process audit will be carried out on the affected facilities.
This audit will include testing for lead levels in humans, soil, air, and major water sources within and around the industrial town.
He added that the results of these tests will be made public, alongside a review of the methodology and outcomes of previous assessments cited in media reports.
