The Ogun State Government has sealed two companies: Buildwell Plants and Equipment Limited and Katchey Laboratories, for building on a canal and on a flood plain respectively.
The government said the firms’ acts were causing excessive flooding and other environmental infractions in their immediate communities.
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The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, ordered the sealing of the companies after an on-the-spot assessment tour of Magada, Redstar, Wemabod and Sparklight OPIC Estate communities in Magboro area of Obafemi-Owode LGA.
While Buildwell Plants and Equipment Limited was found guilty of building on a canal and fencing the canal inwards into their compound, Katchey Laboratories sand-filled a flood plain land, built on it and also fenced it thereby causing excessive flooding in four communities.
In sealing the companies, the commissioner vowed that the state government would not fold its hands and watch the irresponsible and man-made environmental infractions by the two companies which had affected the well-being of residents of the communities.
He said, “The state government will not tolerate these infractions. As a responsible government, the welfare of our people is uppermost than the pecuniary gains of few individuals; as any company that infringes on the well-being of our people will see our other side.”
They warned other companies that the state government would not tolerate any environmental infraction, saying the full wrath of the law would be visited on them.
To bring immediate relief to the affected communities, he said the state government would dredge all canals in the communities so as to increase their carrying capacities.
