Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The LASEPA steel companies enforcement action has entered a new phase after the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) reopened six iron and steel manufacturing firms in Ikorodu, following confirmation that they had addressed environmental violations linked to air pollution.
The agency announced on Wednesday that the companies resumed operations after a comprehensive compliance assessment verified that they had implemented corrective measures to meet Lagos State’s environmental standards.
LASEPA General Manager, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, said the enforcement exercise followed alarming air quality readings recorded by the agency’s monitoring network.
“On Monday, July 27, we carried out an intensive enforcement exercise in the industrial and commercial corridors of Lagos after our air quality monitors detected several red flags,” Ajayi said.
According to him, inspectors identified emissions of brown dust, black dust, mill scale, shredded dust, dead dust and other non-metallic particulate matter capable of endangering public health and the environment.
“These pollutants pose significant threats to air quality, public health, and the surrounding environment, making prompt regulatory intervention imperative,” he added.
“Our technical team is permanently stationed within the Odogunyan Industrial Corridor to provide technical guidance and ensure strict compliance with these directives,” he said.
Ajayi warned that prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) could trigger respiratory diseases and other serious health complications but noted that recent enforcement activities had already reduced harmful emissions in surrounding communities.
“Our enforcement and monitoring teams will remain on the ground every day to ensure that industrial activities do not compromise the health, safety and well-being of residents living within host communities,” he said.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
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Korede Abdullah 