The Ogun State Government has shut down Avalon Industrial Estate in Moloko-Asipa along the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway due to serious environmental violations under the 2020 Ogun State Waste Management Authority Law. The closure follows a series of breaches, including illegal dumping of hazardous waste and obstruction of government waste collectors. The estate, which hosts several companies such as Cherry Motors, May Mall, Hongfu Building Materials Industry, Oolala Global Trading Company, Buyang Industry Limited, Leku Industry, and Abec Kuka Foams, is now under suspension until compliance is proven.
Farook Akintunde, Special Adviser to the Governor on Waste Management and Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), confirmed the shutdown during a statement on Friday. He stated that investigations revealed the companies within the estate had been dumping waste, including hazardous materials, into the surrounding environment and host community. These actions directly violate Section 34(1) of the Ogun State Waste Management Law 2020, which prohibits improper waste disposal, and Section 17, which bans the use of unauthorized waste collectors for waste evacuation.
Akintunde also highlighted that the estate had been using illegal dumpsites and actively preventing government-licensed waste collectors from performing their duties since 2023. He emphasized that despite multiple warnings and opportunities to rectify the situation, the management refused to cooperate. The government had even scheduled a facility tour to address the issues, but the estate’s leadership blocked officials from entering, thereby obstructing lawful enforcement actions.
“This is not a matter of negotiation,” Akintunde said. “As a government agency, we will not fold our hands and watch Avalon Industrial Estate flout our laws with reckless abandon while also denying government officials from carrying out their lawful duties under any guise.” He stressed that the shutdown is a necessary measure to uphold environmental standards and ensure accountability.
The estate will remain closed until all violations are corrected and the management submits a written commitment to comply fully with the state’s waste management regulations. OGWAMA has made it clear that no leniency will be granted until full compliance is demonstrated. This move underscores the state’s growing resolve to enforce environmental laws and protect public health and safety.
The shutdown sends a strong message to industrial operators across Ogun State that environmental responsibility is non-negotiable. It also highlights the government’s commitment to ensuring that businesses adhere to legal standards, particularly in matters affecting public health and environmental sustainability. Moving forward, similar actions may be taken against other industrial zones found in violation of waste management laws.
Leave a Comment