The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in partnership with the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, on Thursday sealed six recycling facilities in the Ogijo community of Ogun State.

The closures followed the operators’ failure to comply with the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024 and NESREA’s protocol for the safe management of used lead-acid batteries, designed to protect public health and the environment.

NESREA’s Assistant Director of Press, Nwamaka Ejiofor, stated that the six facilities were shut on Thursday, with further enforcement actions expected in the coming days.

The move highlights ongoing concerns about unsafe recycling practices that release toxic lead and other heavy metals, posing serious risks to residents and the environment. Ogijo, a major hub for battery recycling, has long faced complaints of lead contamination, soil degradation, and air pollution due to improper waste handling.

NESREA emphasized that the enforcement followed extensive assessments and awareness campaigns conducted with the Ogun State Government and other stakeholders under the Project for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling.

This action comes three days after the federal government closed two factories in Ogun State for “grave violations” of Occupational Safety and Health standards. The affected companies—True Metals Nigeria Limited and Phoenix Steel Mills Limited—are located along the Ikorodu–Sagamu industrial corridor.

During an unscheduled inspection tour, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, ordered the closures after noting hazardous and dehumanizing working conditions at True Metals Nigeria Limited. Workers there were reportedly exposed to unprotected lead emissions, lacked basic sanitation facilities, and operated without mandatory automation equipment despite prior warnings.

“That you are giving our people jobs does not justify putting their lives at risk,” the minister said. “We cannot say we are creating jobs while we are killing our people. Every Nigerian deserves a safe and dignified working environment.”

NESREA stated that its protocol requires recyclers to manage used lead-acid battery slag and base-metal residues responsibly, prioritize staff welfare through annual blood lead testing, provide adequate personal protective equipment, conduct yearly environmental impact audits on surrounding communities, adopt cleaner recycling technologies, and participate in pilot projects exploring the use of slag in brick and cement production.