Hon. Kehinde Bello

By: Our Corespondent.

Determined to rid the Industrial town of Ogijo of another future environmental hazard,the Ogun state government has warned Metal Recycling Companies in the town against flouting state government's earlier March 31st 2026 deadline for them to retrofit their operations with modern and advanced technologies from their present old and obsolete technologies and equipments or face severe penalties.

  According to the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency,OGEPA,Hon Kehinde Bello,the state government is determined to enforce the deadline as any of them that fails to meet the deadline will not only face severe penalties but will be shut permanently in the overriding public interest .

  Hon Bello handed out the deadline reminder and its consequences during a stakeholders meeting between the representatives of the Metal Recycling Companies and Executive Members of the Ogijo Community Associations held today at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Environment,State Secretariat,Okemosan,Abeokuta.

  "By retrofitting their operations with modern and advanced technologies,it will stop the pollution emanating from their obsolete equipments which continually  have negative and hazardous effects on their immediate communities coupled with their irresponsible attitude in abating them"

  " Before arriving on the March 31st 2026, various administrations in the state have taken several measures which includes sanctions such as payment of penal sums,stop-work  order and facility closure,all focused at ensuring that they retrofit their operations over the last fifteen years but ,the Prince Dapo Abiodun administration which is people-centred is now taking the bull by the horns with the directive to the companies to retrofit their operations or face severe sanctions"

  While reminding the representatives of the companies that they have earlier been notified of the deadline,Hon Bello said the stakeholders meeting is to remind them of government determination to enforce the deadline as it will not fold its hand and watch few Metal Recycling Companies,no matter their importance to the state's economic growth compromise the health and well-being of its Ogijo residents.

  For the Executive Members of the Community Development Associations and their  members, Hon Bello said the state government will not entertain any pleading from them to extend the March 31st,2026 deadline saying government decision on the matter is final urging them to support the state government resolve to restore a healthy and safe environment to Ogijo Town and its environs.