Lagos wades into alleged asphalt plant pollution

SEQUEL to reports and subsequent sealing of an asphalt producing company, righteous Construction Company Nigeria Limited, the Lagos State Government has mediated between the company and the host community to foster understanding and guide the abatement process.

This intervention was at the instance of the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-etti who met with the representative of the asphalt producing company and Otto community of Ijora Badia in his office in Alausa.

The Commissioner said that the environmental pollution by the company was brought to the attention of the Ministry through a media report which led the enforcement department of the Ministry to seal up the company to prevent further pollution of the environment.

Durosinmi-etti said the Lagos State Government being a responsible and responsive government was always out to protect lives of its citizens, while also guiding the livelihood of its people.

He said that it was discovered that the cause of the emission was the fact that the dust control unit of the asphalt plant was faulty. “The company must install new dust control unit to forestall further pollution, stressing that the installation of the unit was a sinequa-non for the resumption of production by the company,” he said

He advised the company to work in conjunction with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) while installing the new machines as the compliance level of the company would be certified by stakeholders before it could resume production.

The community representatives praised the State Government for its swift intervention despite the fact that no formal complaint was lodged with the authorities.