By Faridat Salifu
Concerns over industrial waste management have resurfaced in Ogun State following the discovery of an alleged illegal dumpsite and open-air waste burning near a paper processing facility in Agbara.
The Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) on Monday sealed Quantum Packaging Nigeria Limited, located along the Lusada-Igbesa Road, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, after surveillance allegedly revealed continued dumping and burning of waste around the company’s facility.
The action followed an earlier warning issued to the company after OGWAMA officials allegedly found waste being disposed of within its premises rather than being handed over to government-accredited waste collectors.
According to the authority, subsequent monitoring revealed a large dumpsite on an expanse of land near the factory, where accumulated waste was allegedly being burned.
The agency said the practices contravened Section 2(b)(a) of the OGWAMA Law 2020 and provisions of the Ogun State Environmental and Public Health Law 2006, which prohibit unauthorised waste disposal and open-air burning.
The Special Adviser to the Governor and Managing Director of OGWAMA, Farouk Akintunde, said the alleged continued dumping prompted the authority to take enforcement action after its earlier warning.
Akintunde said the burning of waste was particularly concerning because of its potential consequences for environmental quality and public health.
He said the state government could not permit industrial activities to continue at the expense of environmental safety, adding that businesses were expected to comply with approved waste-management requirements.
The OGWAMA boss said the company would remain sealed until it stopped operating the alleged illegal dumpsite and prepared a remediation plan for clearing the accumulated waste.
He said the government would consider reopening the facility only after the required corrective measures had been implemented.
The enforcement comes as the state government intensifies efforts to curb indiscriminate waste disposal, open-air burning and other environmental violations across Ogun State.
The case highlights the environmental risks associated with uncontrolled disposal and burning of industrial waste, particularly where waste-management systems are not properly followed.
