Ogun State government has shut three companies for various environmental infractions, as part of its continued efforts at laying solid foundation for environmental best practices in the state.

The companies are; Ruili Recycling Limited, Robust International PTE Limited both in the Mowe area of the state and Star Pipe Limited in Sagamu.

Ola Oresanya, Commissioner for Environment in the state while ordering their closure at the weekend said that Ruili Recycling- pet bottles recycling company was found guilty of discharging its wastes and storm water into their immediate environment especially in the premises of Christopher University which exposed the students to avoidable danger as well as its refusal to obtain a drainage approval to properly channel the unwanted water to appropriate place.

He also noted that the company was discovered to be burning all its solid wastes within its premises contrary to the state’s Environmental Laws thereby exposing its workers and residents of its immediate communities to toxic and hazardous pollution as well as operating in a filthy environment.

For Robust International PTE, Oresanya said the company illegally demolished a fence bounding them with the same Christopher University so as to reclaim some portion of land and subsequently divert all storm water to the premises of the institution as well as their failure to heed government’s directives for proper remediation.

He therefore said the state government will not fold its hands and watch the two industries expose the students of the institution and residents of their immediate communities to suffer from their careless environmental infractions while they feel unconcerned.

For Star Pipe Limited, Sagamu, the Commissioner said that the company was shut after they refused entreaties to install effluent treatment plants into their facilities as they discharge raw and hydrolic acid into their immediate environment.

This he said has led to contamination of ground water of these communities which has made the water unsafe and unhygienic.

Oresanya added that the three companies will remain shut until they correct all the lapses detected as the state government is not interested in closing them down but for them to operate according to the best global environmental standards which the state government has adopted. (Sunday Independent)