• We didn’t pollute any land, says firm
The families of Yusuf Olubiyi, Ismaila Olubiyi, Alice Masonio and Isiaka Adeyemi of Ogun State have petitioned the Ogun State’s Ministry of Environment over alleged environmental degradation on their land, situated besides Irede Agro-Allied Limited, located at the Sagamu Interchange, Abeokuta Expressway in the state .

They alleged that firm, engages in the production of cassava flour and in the course of production failed to adhere to standard practice in the disposal of the waste.

The Guardian visit to the area revealed that cassava wastewaters emanating from the firms’ premises are channeled to adjourning land, thereby destroying the vegetation and making life unbearable for the owners.

In a letter by their lawyer, Tunde Ogunnusi & Company, it said: “Our clients own eight plots of land close to your cassava flour factory and your company had been disposing the waste on the land until recently when you constructed a reservoir after vigorous protest from your neighours.

“Despite that you constructed the reservoir where your waste is channeled, an irreparable damage has been done to the ecosystem and lives of our clients in particular. The environmental degradation caused by your cassava waste resulted in depletion of the quality of air, water and soil. Your waste has polluted the environment with toxin, thereby destroying both cash and food crops belonging to our clients.”

According to the letter signed by the Principal Partner of the firm, Babatunde Ogunnusi, the families are demanding N10million as special and general damages for environmental degradation and health hazard caused to their health and landed property.

One of the families’ representative, Yusuf Olubiyi, told The Guardian that due to the pollution, the lands is neither useful for cultivation nor building construction.

The firm established their cassava-processing factory in early 2020 and it produces, among other things, high quality cassava starch and flour.

The families alleged that a year after the firmcommenced operations, the community had not witnessed peace as an offensive odour permeates the air. The firm also channeled waste emanating from the factory to our land in flagrant disobedience to relevant environmental law of Ogun State.”

Olubiyi said the families had approached the management on how best to dispose their waste but all was to no avail as they were not ready to hear from them.

Reacting, one of the Directors of Irede AgroAllied Limited Prof. Yaya Kolade, said the company has not polluted any land as it basically into Cassava processing.