In a sweeping action on Thursday, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency sealed off about 15 companies located in various industrial and residential areas in Lagos.
LASEPA's Director of Enforcement, Mr. Kayode Bello, who led the team, said the companies and factories were shut down because they were "sources of environmental degradation and pollution."
When the team, which was backed by armed policemen, arrived at two of the companies – Primlaks Galvanizing Industries and Eureka Metals Limited, the employees were caught unawares
Bello gave orders from a hand-held megaphone. He told workers at Primlaks to drop their tools and vacate the premises immediately. The workers, numbering hundreds, trooped out of the factories.
The LASEPA team pointed at some oil and aluminium sludge in the companies' drain.
Bello said, "This oil is collected and channelled by the drains into streams and rivers, where they contaminate aquatic life. The fishes in the water are in turn eaten by Lagosians and these cause various diseases.
"We have warned these companies several times in the past, and we even recommended ways to abate the pollution, but they did not comply. Their offences include air and noise pollution, discharge of sludge from furnace into the environment."
The Production Manager of Primlaks, Joel Adebomi, told our correspondent that the production wastes, which were packed in plastics, contained zinc and lead. He said the wastes were bought by "outsiders who refine and resell them."
Bello however disputed that the wastes were refined, saying the wastes were improperly disposed.
Other companies shut on Thursday were Wingham Furniture, Berkley Estate, Abule-Egba; a bakery at 5, Ali Street, Off Olorunshogo, Mushin; Tin Oil Limited, Muritala Mohammed Way, Yaba; Ikorodu Industrial Steel, Odogunyan, Ikorodu. Two churches shut because of noise pollution are Christ Victoria Chapel at 2B, Cole Street, Iyana Ipaja; and Christ Chosen Church of God at 10, Matanmi Street, Onipanu, Lagos.
The General Manager of LASEPA Mr. Rasheed Shabi said, "After warning these companies, their proprietors went about sending people to us. There is nobody above the law. Before we reopen them, they must put our recommendations in place."
