The Ogun State Government has sealed Dahua Paper Company Limited in Owiwi Village, Abeokuta, over alleged illegal waste disposal and open burning of industrial waste.
The enforcement action was carried out by the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), following investigations which the agency said established that the company had been using an unauthorised site opposite its factory to dump and burn waste generated from its operations.
The Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Environmental Protection and Managing Director of OGWAMA, Farouk Akintunde, led the enforcement team that shut the facility.
According to Akintunde, the company was apprehended after the authority had monitored its activities and gathered intelligence on its waste disposal practices.
He said officials discovered that waste from the factory was being taken to the illegal dumpsite, where it was subsequently burnt.
The OGWAMA boss further alleged that the company was pushing waste towards a river located at the end of the dumpsite, raising concerns about the contamination of surrounding water sources and underground water.
He said the affected river serves communities in the area, making the alleged activities a potential threat to the health of residents who depend on the water source.
Two trucks allegedly used by the company to transport waste to the unauthorised dumpsite were also found at the location and confiscated by the enforcement team.
The state government said the actions amounted to violations of Ogun State environmental regulations, particularly provisions of the State Environmental and Public Health Law 2006 and Section 2(b)(a) of the OGWAMA Law 2020, which prohibit open burning of waste by individuals and corporate organisations.
Akintunde said the company would remain closed and face the full weight of the law over the alleged environmental violations.
He also warned companies, businesses and other operators engaging in illegal dumping or open burning of refuse across the state to immediately desist from such practices.
The OGWAMA managing director urged businesses generating waste to register with the state waste management authority and make arrangements for proper disposal through approved channels.
He said the government would continue to strengthen enforcement against illegal dumpsites and indiscriminate waste disposal as part of efforts to protect the environment and safeguard public health.
The action against Dahua Paper Company comes amid increased enforcement by the Ogun State Government against illegal waste disposal across the state, with authorities warning businesses and communities against using unauthorised locations for refuse disposal.
The government has maintained that improper waste management not only degrades the environment but can also contaminate water sources and create health risks for communities.
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