Precious Anga
Lagos — The Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, OGEPA, has commenced an enforcement and assessment exercise to monitor gaseous emissions and other pollutants from mining sites across the Ogun East Senatorial District.
The exercise is designed to identify environmental and public health risks associated with mining, quarrying and blasting activities, while also ensuring that operators have the required environmental documentation and approvals.
OGEPA General Manager, Kehinde Bello, said the agency was assessing the potential impact of emissions from mining operations on workers and residents in host communities.
He said prolonged exposure to dust, smoke and other pollutants from mining, quarrying and blasting could pose serious respiratory health risks and damage the surrounding environment.
According to Bello, the exercise would enable OGEPA to collect air-quality data from mining communities and use the findings to determine appropriate regulatory action where violations or non-compliance are established.
He said the enforcement drive formed part of the agency’s mandate to protect the environment, safeguard public health and promote responsible industrial practices across Ogun State.
Bello added that OGEPA would continue monitoring mining and other industrial operations to ensure compliance with environmental standards, particularly regulations governing air pollution and safe operating practices.
He urged mining operators to take greater responsibility for the environmental impact of their activities, stressing that compliance with regulations was essential to protecting residents while sustaining industrial development in the state.
The Head of OGEPA’s Task Force Unit, Olusesi Opaleye, said the exercise also covered the examination of operational practices capable of generating air pollution and other environmental hazards.
Opaleye said the agency was using the exercise to sensitise operators on environmental compliance, urging them to secure the necessary approvals before commencing operations and adopt safer practices to reduce risks to workers and host communities.
Residents of communities affected by mining and blasting activities were also encouraged to report suspected environmental violations to the appropriate authorities as OGEPA pledged continued monitoring, enforcement and public sensitisation across the affected areas.
