Ogun State government has suspended three environmental consultancy firms over professional negligence linked to alleged acid battery pollution from closed Used Lead Acid Battery (ULAB) recycling companies in the Ogijo area.
In a statement made available to our reporter on Saturday, the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ola Oresanya, explained that the firms were found culpable during a review of the Process Audit of the closed companies.
“The three consultancy firms attached to the ULAB companies were deficient in reporting the correct situation of the companies to the state government,”
Oresanya said during a meeting at the Ministry of Environment, State Secretariat, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
He noted that several pollution abatement devices that were supposed to be installed by these companies were never implemented, pointing to clear professional negligence.
While five consultancy firms involved in the audit were invited to defend their reports, two provided explanations that, although not entirely satisfactory, allowed them the opportunity to amend their practices.
“The three suspended firms, however, deliberately absented themselves from the review meeting, knowing fully well they were complicit,” Oresanya added.
The commissioner confirmed that the state government had no choice but to suspend the operations of the firms until they clear their names.
“These firms are suspended from all environmental consultancy services in the state until they exonerate themselves,” he said, adding that the Federal Ministry of Environment and the National Environmental Standards and Enforcement Agency have been notified of the decision.
Oresanya emphasised that the suspension aims to protect public health and ensure accountability in environmental management, warning that further action will follow should evidence of negligence persist.
