The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, on Thursday sealed six recycling facilities in the Ogijo community, Ogun State.
The action follows the operators’ failure to comply with the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024 and a protocol developed by NESREA to ensure the environmentally sound management of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs), protecting both public health and the environment.
The Assistant Director (Press) at NESREA, Nwamaka Ejiofor, disclosed in a press statement that six recycling facilities were sealed on Thursday, with plans to take action against other non-compliant operators subsequently.
The enforcement highlights ongoing concerns about unsafe recycling practices, which can release toxic lead and heavy metals, posing serious risks to residents’ health and the environment.
Ogijo, a hub for battery recycling, has previously faced complaints of lead contamination, soil degradation, and air pollution resulting from improper handling of battery waste.
NESREA said, “Under the protocol, the facilities committed to managing ULAB slag and base metal residue in a safe, environmentally sound, and socially responsible manner, and also prioritised staff health and safety, including annual blood lead testing and the provision of Personal Protective Equipment.
“The recyclers, in their duty to the host community and in consideration of environmental responsibility, are required to conduct annual environmental impact audits on surrounding communities, transition to cleaner recycling technologies, and participate in pilot projects for slag reuse as raw materials for bricks and cement.
“NESREA, in collaboration with the Ogun State Government and other partners under the Project for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling (PROBAMET), had carried out extensive assessment and sensitisation of operators in the sector on international best practices in recycling.”
Ogijo, a hub for battery recycling, has previously faced complaints of lead contamination, soil degradation, and air pollution resulting from improper handling of battery waste.
A PUNCH Online report in September 2025 noted that NESREA had earlier sealed nine battery recycling facilities in Ogijo for similar violations under the 2024 regulations, including improper handling of slag, lack of fume-treatment plants, and failure to conduct blood-lead testing for workers. https://punchng.com/nesrea-to-evacuate-hazardous-battery-waste-from-ogun-community/
The September 2025 enforcement was part of a broader crackdown by NESREA across South-West Nigeria, covering Ogun, Ekiti, Osun, and Lagos states, where 29 recycling facilities were closed for environmental infractions.
Following that action, NESREA and its partners launched a formal “slag evacuation” programme in Ogijo to remove toxic battery residues and align local practices with international environmental standards.
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