Ogun seals company over illegal dumpsite, waste burning

The Ogun State Waste Management Authority, OGWAMA, has closed Quantum Packaging Nigeria Limited, a paper processing company, following their operation of an unauthorized dumpsite and waste burning activities along Lusada-Igbesa Road in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area. Farouk Akintunde, Special Adviser to the Governor and Managing Director of OGWAMA, announced on Monday that this conduct violates Section 2(b)(a) of the OGWAMA Law 2020 and the Ogun State Environmental and Public Health Law 2006, which both ban open-air waste burning and unauthorized refuse dumping.

Akintunde explained that OGWAMA conducts surveillance across various facilities to identify companies committing environmental offenses. By being on a familiarization visit, he discovered that the company was dumping waste randomly within their factory premises instead of allowing government-approved waste collectors to manage and dispose of it properly. Subsequently, they were warned to cease these activities.

This warning resulted in OGWAMA's surveillance team monitoring their waste disposal methods, leading to the detection of a significant dumpsite near their factory. Furthermore, the Authority found that they were burning waste to conceal their illicit activities. Consequently, OGWAMA and the state government were compelled to shut down the company.

Akintunde emphasized the negative impact of the company's illegal activities on the health and well-being of residents. He warned that waste burning poses several health risks, particularly cancer, and that the state government cannot remain passive while companies degrade the environment and endanger lives. The company will not resume operations until they have demolished the illegal dumpsite and developed a remediation plan to eliminate all waste from the site.