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The Ogun State Government has inaugurated a 15-member Joint Monitoring Committee to curb environmental pollution and address growing concerns about reported lead poisoning in the Ogijo area.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, the committee will provide localised oversight and act as a watchdog over the operations of Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULAB) recycling facilities within the community.
Inaugurating the committee, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, explained that members were carefully selected based on their proximity to the recycling plants, ensuring that residents directly affected by the industrial activities play a central role in monitoring them.
“The Committee would serve as a bridge between the state government and the community.
“Environmental protection cannot be achieved through regulation alone as it requires community vigilance, shared responsibility, and mutual trust,” he said.
Oresanya added that the committee’s responsibilities include facilitating the reporting of health-related concerns and promoting transparency in remediation and compliance processes.
He also issued a stern warning to ULAB operators, stating that economic interests must not take precedence over public health.
The initiative has received support from both state and federal regulatory authorities.
The General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, Kehinde Bello, urged stakeholders to collaborate with the government to restore environmental safety in Ogijo, assuring the committee of OGEPA’s full technical support.
The committee’s mandate has been described as both preventive and protective, focusing on early detection of environmental risks to ensure that the “alleged lead poisoning” in the community is effectively addressed.
