The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, has sealed six recycling facilities in Ogijo community, Ogun State.
The affected facilities include Hanuchi Manufacturing Ltd, BPL Nigeria Ltd, Metal Manufacturing Nig. Ltd, Vendanta Nigeria Ltd, African Non-Ferrous Industrial Ltd, and True Metal Nig. Ltd.
According to a statement on Thursday by Mrs. Nwamaka Ejiofor, NESREA’s Assistant Director of Press, the facilities were shut down for failing to comply with the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024. They also failed to adhere to protocols for the safe management of Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULAB).
Ejiofor explained that the regulations and related protocols are designed to protect public health and the environment from hazards associated with improper battery recycling.
“The protocol requires facilities to manage ULAB slag and base metal residues in a safe, environmentally sound, and socially responsible manner,” she said.
She added that the protocols also prioritize staff health and safety, including annual blood lead testing and the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Ejiofor noted that NESREA, in partnership with the Ogun State government and other stakeholders, had conducted extensive assessments and sensitization exercises for operators on international best practices in battery recycling. These efforts were carried out under the Project for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling (PROBAMET).
