Residents of Ogijo in Ogun State are set to get relief as the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and its partners begin plans to evacuate hazardous Used Lead-Acid Battery (ULAB) slag from the community.
The move was announced at a stakeholder meeting on strategies for managing ULAB slag in Ogijo, a hub for battery recycling facilities. Slag, a toxic by-product of smelting used lead-acid batteries, contains iron and lead oxides and is classified as hazardous waste under international regulations.
The Director General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, described Ogijo as a “hotspot for unregulated and improper disposal of slag,” warning of serious risks to public health and the environment. He said the agency had commenced full enforcement of the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024 and developed a monitoring framework to address the pollution.
Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the initiative would also explore technologies to convert slag into useful materials, supporting circular economy principles.
The event, supported by GIZ Nigeria, brought together community leaders, the Federal Ministry of Environment, Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), Alliance for Responsible Battery Recycling (ARBR), Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV), and industry representatives.
