Ogun: Avalon Industrial Estate shut down over illegal waste disposal

The Ogun State Government has shut down Avalon Industrial Estate in Moloko-Asipa along the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway over environmental infractions in violation of various sections of the 2020 Ogun State Waste Management Authority Law.

DAILY POST gathered that the estate houses several industries, including Cherry Motors, May Mall, Hongfu Building Materials Industry, Oolala Global Trading Company, Buyang Industry Limited, Leku Industry, and Abec Kuka Foams.

Speaking on the shutdown on Friday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Waste Management, Farook Akintunde, said the companies in the estate were found guilty of dumping waste, including hazardous materials, within their immediate environment and host community.

Akintunde, who also doubles as the Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), explained that the action contravenes Section 34(1) of the Ogun State Waste Management Law 2020, as well as Section 17 of the same law, which prohibits the use of unauthorized waste collectors for waste evacuation.

He said, “They were also found culpable of dumping waste in illegal dumpsites, as well as preventing government-licensed waste collectors from performing their duties in the estate since 2023, in violation of the OGWAMA Law.

“Despite all these infractions, we gave the estate the opportunity to defend itself against these allegations and even scheduled a facility tour to resolve all the issues, but they refused and also stopped government officials from carrying out the facility tour, thereby preventing them from performing their lawful duties.

“As a government agency, we will not fold our hands and watch Avalon Industrial Estate willingly flout government laws with reckless abandon while also denying government officials from carrying out their lawful duties under any guise,” Akintunde added.

He insisted that the estate would remain shut until all infractions are corrected and the management shows commitment in writing to comply with all laws governing waste management in the state.