AGAIN, the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) has sealed up the Quantum Packaging Nigeria Limited- a paper processing company situated at Km 7, Lusada- Igbesa Road, Agbara in Ado -Odo Ota Local Councils. for operating illegal dumpsite and waste burning, which contravene OGWAMA’s law.

According to Section 2b(a) of the OGWAMA Law 2020 and the Ogun State Environmental and Public Health Law 2006, the laws frown against open- air waste burning and unauthorised refuse dumping for all people.

Speaking after sealing the company, the Special Adviser to the Governor and Managing Director of OGWAMA, Faruk Akintunde said the company was caught as a result of comprehensive surveillance mounted on different facilities, including the company that are found of committing environmental infractions

“As a regulatory body, we are charged with the management and administration of waste and regrettably, I was here on a familiarisation visit to this particular company where l discovered that they dumped waste indiscriminately inside their factory instead of allowing government accredited waste collectors to collect and dispose them properly and they were subsequently warned to desist.

“This warning led to our surveillance team monitoring their waste disposal and it was therefore discovered that they operate a very big dumpsite on a large expanse of the land near their factory where a lot of burning were equally done to hide their dastardly act, so the Authority and the state government had no option than to shut them down.”

According to him, the illegal activities of the company is inimical to the health and well-being of residents of the state, especially that of waste burning, which is more dangerous as it causes lots of health challenges especially cancer.

He said the state government as a responsible government that is friendly to companies operating in the state cannot fold it’s hand and watch the company degrade the environment and put the lives of our resident in danger.

Akintunde said the company will not be opened until they shut down the illegal dumpsite and put up a remediation plan to rid the dumpsite of all wastes before the state can think of unlocking the company.