Oluwatobi Adu 
ABEOKUTA, Nigeria – The Ogun State Government issues a final ultimatum to metal recycling firms in Ogijo, warning that failure to install modern pollution-control technology by 31 March 2026 will result in permanent shutdown.
The directive was issued Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abeokuta involving company executives and community leaders.
General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), Kehinde Bello, says the deadline is non-negotiable and prioritises public health over economic considerations.
“Outdated facilities continue to pose serious environmental and health risks to host communities,” Bello says. “Any company that fails to comply will face severe sanctions and closure.”
He explains that for over 15 years, successive administrations-imposed fines, stop-work orders and temporary closures, but compliance remains weak. Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration, he adds, will now enforce full retrofitting without extensions.
“This people-centred administration is taking the bull by the horns,” Bello tells stakeholders.
Community leaders are urged to support enforcement efforts, amid long-standing complaints of air pollution, noise and health hazards linked to metal recycling activities.
The government reiterates that appeals for deadline extensions will not be entertained, stressing that environmental sustainability and residents’ wellbeing take precedence.
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Otamere Gladness 
