Ogun State Launches Lead Contamination Remediation Efforts

The Ogun State government has commenced a Remediation Exercise aimed at eliminating lead contamination in Ogijo and neighboring communities. This initiative follows a thorough audit of Used Lead Acid Battery (ULAB) facilities and various tests on soil, water, air, and blood samples from residents.

Kehinde Bello, the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), announced the start of the exercise, which includes the evacuation of hazardous slag illegally dumped in the area. Bello indicated that the evacuation process will take several weeks due to the volume of slag present.

He assured residents that the illegal dumping era is over, as the state government has mandated ULAB facilities to upgrade their technology to minimize slag generation. Babatunde Lawal, the Director of Hazardous Material Management at OGEPA, added that a bio-remediation exercise will also be conducted to remove lead from the soil.

He urged ULAB facilities to operate responsibly for the safety of the public and the environment.