The Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency has urged industries operating across the state to comply strictly with environmental regulations, strengthen their corporate social responsibility programmes and support government-led tree-planting initiatives to promote environmental sustainability.
The General Manager of OGEPA, Kehinde Bello, gave the charge during a familiarisation tour of industries across the agency’s three operational zones—Ogun Central, Ogun West and Ogun East.
According to Bello, the exercise was aimed at assessing the level of environmental compliance among industries while deepening collaboration between the agency and the private sector to protect the environment.
He urged companies to organise regular environmental training for their employees to improve their understanding of environmental management and encourage the adoption of global best practices.
Bello also called on industries to partner with the Ogun State Government on tree-planting campaigns to mitigate the effects of climate change, combat global warming and enhance environmental sustainability.
The OGEPA boss directed industries to ensure strict compliance with regulations guiding the handling of hazardous waste and spent oil by maintaining proper documentation and engaging only government-approved waste management operators.
He further instructed companies to install and maintain functional Effluent Treatment Plants to prevent the discharge of untreated wastewater into rivers and other parts of the environment.
Bello also urged industries to expand their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives by implementing projects that would benefit their host communities while promoting environmental protection.
He emphasised the need for proper chemical management and directed companies to obtain the required chemical permits from the agency.
“You should improve your chemical management practices and ensure that the required chemical permit is obtained from OGEPA,” Bello said.
Also speaking, the Director of Inspectorate and Compliance at OGEPA, Babatunde Bolarinwa, highlighted key environmental approvals required for industrial operations, including Chemical Storage Permits, Effluent Discharge Permits, Environmental Audit Approvals and Environmental Monitoring Programme permits.
Responding on behalf of the companies visited, Associate Director of Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mrs. Mark Tijani, commended OGEPA for the engagement, describing the visit as a reflection of the growing partnership between the agency and industries in promoting environmental compliance and sustainable development in Ogun State.
The industries visited during the tour included Prorich Products Nigeria Limited, International Breweries Plc, Rite Foods Limited, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Nestlé Nigeria Plc and Unilever Nigeria Plc, among others.
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