Ogun seals packaging company over illegal dumpsite, waste burning

Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) has sealed Quantum Packaging Nigeria Limited, a paper processing company located along the Lusada-Igbesa Road, for allegedly operating an illegal dumpsite and engaging in waste burning. The company's actions contravene environmental laws, specifically prohibiting open-air waste burning and unauthorized refuse dumping.

Mr. Farouk Akintunde, the Special Adviser to the Governor and Managing Director of OGWAMA, stated that the company was identified during surveillance of facilities suspected of environmental violations. He noted that the authority had previously warned the company after discovering waste dumped on its premises instead of being handed over to accredited collectors.

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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 I 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.

Akintunde explained that despite the warning, a surveillance team monitored the company's waste disposal practices. This revealed a large dumpsite near the factory where waste was being burned, prompting the shutdown. The alleged activities pose a significant threat to the environment and public health due to the dangers associated with open-air waste burning.

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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.