Ogun State Government has begun evacuation of hazardous slag illegally dumped in several communities in Ogijo following investigations into alleged lead contamination linked to Used Lead Acid Battery, ULAB, recycling activities in the industrial community.

The exercise followed a comprehensive process audit of ULAB facilities and environmental assessments, including tests conducted on soil, water, air, and blood samples from residents.

The General Manager State Environmental Protection Agency, OGEPA, Hon. Kehinde Bello, while flagging off the exercise said that the cleanup would take several weeks to complete due to the amount of slag scattered across various locations within the ULAB facilities.

Bello assured residents of the government’s dedication to safeguarding public health and environment, noting that new measures have been put in place to curb illegal dumping and prevent similar incidents in the future.

He stated that all ULAB facilities have been instructed to improve their operations by installing automatic battery breakers, saying that the measure was to minimize slag generation and ensure compliance with state’s approve slag management standards.

Also speaking, the Director of Hazardous Material Management at OGEPA, Mr. Babatunde Lawal, said the remediation programme will include bioremediation through the planting of vegetation capable of absorbing lead from contaminated soil.

Lawal noted that the initiative was aimed at restoring affected areas after the evacuation of the hazardous waste and urged operators of ULAB facilities to conduct their activities responsibly and in line with environmental regulations.

Earlier, the Director of Inspectorate and Compliance, Mr. Tunde Bolarinwa, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strict monitoring of ULAB facilities, warning that any operator found violating the state’s revised operational guidelines would face appropriate sanctions.