Ogun govt to sanction industries flouting environmental laws

The Ogun Government says it will impose strict sanctions on industries and companies that failed to carry out Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and get appropriate approval from the Ministry of Environment.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Bolaji Oyeleye, said this when the State Environmental Sanitation Task Force carried out a routine inspection of some industries on the Sagamu-Ogijo road.

Oyeleye, who was represented by Mr Kunle Adeotan, Head of the Task Force, said that the decision was part of the government’s resolve to ensure that people of the state lived in a safe and healthy environment.

He said that any industry without the EIS approval had contravened extant environmental laws, warning that such companies would be penalised.

Oyeleye said that government would continue to monitor industries across the state, while enforcing environmental laws to the letter.

He said the state government was committed to ensuring the protection of the environment for the future generation.

“Every industry in the mandatory study category must obtain EIA approval, as stipulated in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Law, Cap E12, LFN, 2004.

“Those projects listed in the mandatory study have to undergo EIA, which is handled by the Federal of Environment.

“Any project outside the mandatory study is captured in EIS which is the state version,’’ he said.

Responding, Mr Yemi Olaleye a resident, implored government to regularly monitor the activities of industries in the state.

He said that such measures would aid efforts to protect the environment and people’s well-being.