Ogun Enforces Installation Of ETPs In 15 Industries
As part of its measures to address pollution and safeguard the environment, the Ogun State government says it has compelled more than 15 industries across the industrial regions of the State to install effective effluent treatment plants (ETP) to take care of their waste water.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Bolaji Oyeleye, who made this disclosure while granting an interview with journalists to commemorate the 2018 World Water Day, said the State government had become more aggressive in enforcing the obligatory duty of industrial facilities to install ETPs to protect the state’s ground and surface water bodies.
Oyeleye said that release of toxic substances from industrial processes to the environment portends long term effects that could be detrimental to the health of the people, adding that the State’s status as industrial hub of the country had mandated the Ministry to be alive to its core responsibility of monitoring effluent discharge of industries.
“Within the last three years, more than fifteen industries had been compelled to put in place ETP while several others have had to either expand the capacity of existing ones or reactivate them. Presently, several others are on the verge of full compliance with this requirement,” he said.
The Commissioner noted that the unregulated exploitation of groundwater in the State had serious consequences for the environment, saying this had become imperative for the State government to introduce water abstraction regulations for the benefit of the future generations.
“Groundwater is something that we need all over the world. Humans and animals need water in order to survive as our bodies could not function without it. However, the uncontrolled and unregulated use of groundwater is replete with serious consequences. This becomes imperative for us to safeguard ourselves and children for these consequences”, he said.
In a separate interview, the Ogun State Director, National Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mr. Kayode Fagboyo said that manufacturers of table water must follow acceptable good manufacturing practices in order to produce quality water, adding that protection of people’s health and safeguarding the environment must not be left solely in the hands of government agencies.
