The Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) has commenced an enforcement and assessment exercise to monitor gaseous emissions and pollutants at mining sites across the Ogun East Senatorial District.

The assessment is aimed at identifying and mitigating environmental and health risks arising from gaseous emissions and other pollutants generated by mining and industrial activities, as well as facilitating access to relevant environmental documents.

The General Manager of OGEPA, Kehinde Bello, said that the exercise seeks to evaluate the potential environmental effects of emissions from mining activities, particularly their impact on the health and well-being of workers and residents in host communities.

Bello, explained that prolonged exposure to dust, smoke and other pollutants generated from mining, quarry activities and blasting posed significant risks to respiratory health and would have had adverse effects on the surrounding environment.

He noted that the enforcement exercise would enable the agency to gather relevant data on air quality within mining communities and use the findings to determine appropriate regulatory measures where environmental violations or cases of non-compliance were established.

The OGEPA boss stressed that the exercise was part of the Agency’s broader mandate to protect the environment, safeguard public health and promote responsible and sustainable industrial practices across Ogun State.

He added that the agency would continue to monitor mining and other industrial activities to ensure that operators comply with applicable environmental standards and regulations, particularly those relating to air pollution and safe operational practices.

Bello urged mining operators to ensure that their activities do not endanger the health and safety of residents, emphasising the need for greater environmental responsibility in mining communities and that compliance with environmental regulations remained essential to achieving sustainable industrial development in the State.

Also speaking, the Head of the OGEPA Task Force Unit, Mr Olusesi Opaleye, said the exercise involved the monitoring and examination of operational practices that could contribute to air pollution and other environmental hazards.

Opaleye, said the exercise also provided an opportunity for the Agency to sensitise mining operators on the importance of complying with environmental regulations, urging operators to obtain the necessary environmental approvals before commencing operations and adopting safer operational practices.

This, he said, would minimise risks that could harm workers and the surrounding communities.

Meanwhile, residents of communities hosting mining and blasting activities have been encouraged to report suspected environmental violations to the appropriate authorities, just as the Agency committed to sustained monitoring, enforcement and public sensitisation to ensure a cleaner, safer and healthier environment for the residents.