The Ogun State Government has shut down the Supreme Agro Limited in Igbesa, Ado Odo Local Government Area in the state due to industrial pollution that damaged the ecosystem of their host community.

According to the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, the company was found guilty of industrial pollution, multiple complaints from the Igbesa community, and subsequent failure to heed the warnings from the Ogun State Environmental Task Force.

Oresanya added that the company bypassed the plant and discharged the wastewater directly into the community, rather than building effluent treatment facilities to hold wastewater, remove harmful elements, and bring it back to an acceptable level before releasing it into nearby water bodies.

Oresanya said, “This is a very selfish and callous behaviour on the part of the company because these wastewaters have hazardous components such as heavy metals in them as well as carcinogenic materials and chemicals which when they get to the environment become injurious to the people leading to unwarranted deaths.

“The state government will not look away from such behaviour which will impact the well-being of the residents of their host community.”

He declared that the business would stay closed until the company restored the environment to normal, contributing greater responsibility in its production methods, and carrying out the remediation level with the host community.

The commissioner also commended the Igbesa Traditional Council for alerting the state government to the company’s unethical environmental practices, adding that the government would continue to provide a conducive environment for all businesses in the state.

Oresanya cautioned businesses operating in the state against malpractices while stating that the government would not tolerate any negligence in their production processes.

He noted that to be rewarded by the state government, businesses must operate in compliance with the international environmental best practices and always act honourably.