Ogun State Government Begins Cleanup After Lead Contamination Fears from Battery Recycling

The Ogun State Government has initiated a remediation exercise in the Ogijo area to address concerns over alleged lead contamination linked to Used Lead Acid Battery (ULAB) recycling activities. This effort aims to protect public health and restore the environment, following a comprehensive assessment by the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA).

The OGEPA's assessment included process audits of ULAB facilities and extensive testing of soil, water, air, and blood samples from residents. Lead contamination poses significant health risks, especially to children and pregnant women, with prolonged exposure to the toxic metal being a major concern in communities hosting such recycling operations.

Kehinde Bello, General Manager of OGEPA, stated during the flag-off of the remediation exercise that the intervention is designed to eliminate potential lead contamination sources and safeguard residents. "The state has begun evacuating slag illegally dumped in different parts of Ogijo because of its hazardous nature," Bello said, noting that this process will take weeks due to the widespread illegal dumping.

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The state has begun evacuating slag illegally dumped in different parts of Ogijo because of its hazardous nature.

The government is committed to preventing a recurrence of such hazardous waste disposal. Bello announced that all ULAB facilities have been directed to upgrade their technology by installing automatic battery breakers. This measure is intended to significantly reduce slag generation and ensure compliance with the state government's standard procedures for slag management. "The era of illegal dumping of slag is over," he assured.

Furthermore, Mr. Babatunde Lawal, Director of Hazardous Material Management at OGEPA, explained that the remediation program extends beyond slag evacuation. It includes restoring contaminated land through biological methods, such as planting specific materials that can absorb lead from the soil, thereby revitalizing the affected areas.

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The era of illegal dumping of slag is over as the state government has directed all the ULAB facilities to upgrade their technology by deploying automatic battery breakers to their system, which will reduce slag generation to the barest minimum as well as obey the state government’s standard procedures on slag management.