The decision comes after a two-part investigation by The Examination, a global health-focused newsroom, which exposed severe environmental contamination and unsafe working conditions in Ogijo — a community straddling the Ogun–Lagos border.
Emmanuel Ojo, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Dapo Abiodun, disclosed the development in a statement posted on X on Thursday.
According to Ojo, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, visited the community with a technical team from the Ministries of Environment and Health, the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
During the visit, Oresanya announced the shutdown of seven ULAB recycling facilities as a precautionary measure aimed at protecting public health while a comprehensive audit is conducted.
He said the state would begin a full health and process audit, including tests for lead levels in residents, water, soil and air.
“There is no cause for panic,” Oresanya assured. “We will publish verified lab results and audit findings as soon as they are ready.”
Investigative Report Reveals Severe Contamination
The Examination’s report revealed that factories in Ogijo had released dangerous levels of lead into the environment, putting both workers and residents at risk.
Key findings include:
- Blood tests showed dangerously high lead levels in every factory worker sampled, with some hitting 38 µg/dL — far above the World Health Organisation’s threshold.
- Eight of 14 tested children recorded blood-lead levels above 5 µg/dL, posing severe developmental risks.
- Soil tests showed contamination levels as high as 1,900 ppm in a school playground — nearly five times global safety limits.
Regulatory Crackdown Intensifies
OGEPA announced it had led inspection teams to multiple ULAB facilities after issuing a mandatory 72-hour shutdown notice to nine plants across the state.
General Manager of OGEPA, Kehinde Bello, emphasized the agency’s commitment to reducing lead exposure and enforcing environmental standards.
“Our mandate is to maintain a safe environment free from pollution,” he said.
The crackdown follows a wave of regulatory action triggered by the investigative report.
- On 24 November, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, sealed two recycling companies for exposing workers to hazardous conditions.
- On 27 November, the Ogun State Government shut seven additional lead factories in Ogijo.
- In September, NESREA had already sealed nine lead recycling firms after receiving independent soil and blood test results.
International partners are also responding. Chris Pruitt, Executive Chairman of U.S.-based East Penn Manufacturing, confirmed that the company had stopped purchasing lead from Nigeria and strengthened its supplier code of conduct.
The Ogun State Government urged residents to remain calm as investigations broaden to determine the full extent of pollution and enforce accountability.
