Ogun shuts down paper mill for operating unlawful waste dump, contaminating local waterway

The Ogun State Waste Management Authority has taken drastic action against Dahua Paper Company Ltd., located in Owowo Village near Abeokuta, by sealing off the premises due to the company's involvement in operating an unauthorized dumpsite and openly burning waste.

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This decisive move was led by the Managing Director of OGWAMA, Mr Faruk Akintunde, who headed the authority's enforcement team during the operation on Tuesday.

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According to Akintunde, the decision to seal the company was the result of an extensive period of surveillance and intelligence gathering, which ultimately revealed that Dahua Paper Company Ltd. was indeed running an illegal dumpsite right across from its factory.

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Akintunde explained that the company's actions were in clear contravention of the Ogun State Environmental and Public Health Law 2006, as well as Section 2(b)(a) of the OGWAMA Law 2020, which explicitly prohibits the open burning of waste by individuals and corporate entities.

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The law also stipulates severe penalties for offenders, including the sealing of their facilities, as a means of enforcing compliance with environmental regulations.

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Akintunde revealed that upon investigating the site, it was confirmed that the company was actively dumping and burning waste, and had even been caught pushing waste into a nearby river at the end of the dumpsite.

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The OGWAMA boss emphasized the potential risks of this practice, which could lead to the contamination of water bodies and underground water, thereby posing a significant threat to the health of residents in nearby villages who rely on the affected river.

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During the operation, the authority also confiscated two lorries that were allegedly used by the company to transport and dump waste at the illegal site.

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Akintunde reiterated that the company's actions had been thoroughly documented, and that the evidence confirmed the contamination of water bodies and the pollution of underground water, putting the health of villagers at risk.

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In addition to the seizure of the lorries, Akintunde stated that the company would remain closed while facing the full force of the law, serving as a warning to other individuals and organizations operating illegal dumpsites or engaging in open waste burning to cease their activities.

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He urged all offenders to register with the authority and adopt approved waste disposal methods, cautioning that those who fail to comply would eventually face the consequences of their actions.