OGEPA tasks industries on environmental compliance, tree planting

General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, OGEPA, Mr Kehinde Bello, has called on industries operating across the state to strengthen compliance with environmental regulations.

The industries were also urged to improve corporate social responsibility initiatives and embrace sustainable environmental practices.

Bello made the call during a familiarisation tour of companies across the Agency’s 3 operational zones which comprises Ogun Central, Ogun West and Ogun East.

The visit was aimed at assessing the level of environmental compliance by industries and strengthening collaboration between OGEPA and the private sector in protecting the environment.

Addressing management of the various companies visited, Bello stressed the importance of organising periodic training programmes for staff to enhance their knowledge and capacity in environmental management, noting that continuous training would promote the adoption of global environmental best practices.

He also encouraged industries to partner with the government on tree-planting initiatives to combat global warming, reduce the effects of climate change and promote environmental sustainability.

The general manager charged companies to ensure strict compliance with regulations governing the management of hazardous waste and spent oil by maintaining proper documentation and engaging only approved waste handlers in line with the agency’s environmental guidelines.

Meanwhile, he directed industries to install and maintain efficient Effluent Treatment Plants, ETPs, to prevent the discharge of untreated wastewater into the environment and improve the management of chemicals within their facilities, while obtaining the necessary chemical permits from the Agency.

“You should improve your chemical management practices and ensure that the required chemical permit is obtained from OGEPA,” Bello stated.

Also speaking, Director of Inspectorate and Compliance, Mr Babatunde Bolarinwa, outlined the statutory environmental permits required for industrial operations such as the Chemical Storage Permit, Effluent Discharge Permit, Environmental Audit Approval and Environmental Monitoring Programme, among others.

Responding on behalf of the companies visited, the Associate Director of Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mrs Mark Tijani, commended OGEPA for the familiarisation exercise, describing it as a demonstration of the strong collaboration between the agency and industries in promoting environmental compliance and sustainable development in Ogun State.