OGIJO, Ogun State — The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) says it is finalising plans to evacuate hazardous used lead-acid battery (ULAB) slag from Ogijo, a community in Ogun State plagued by toxic waste from informal recycling activities.
This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by NESREA’s Assistant Director of Press, Nwamaka Ejiofor, who noted that the exercise would give residents of Ogijo “a breath of fresh air.”
The evacuation plan was the focus of a stakeholder meeting on strategies for managing ULAB slag in Ogijo, which hosts several battery recycling facilities.
Nigeria has long battled industrial pollution, particularly from unsafe recycling methods. Experts warn that prolonged exposure to lead and other toxins causes severe health complications, especially among children.
Slag, a by-product of smelting used batteries, is classified as hazardous waste under both national and international regulations.
NESREA’s Director General, Prof. Innocent Barikor, described Ogijo as “a hotspot for the unregulated and improper disposal of slag,” warning of the risks posed to public health and the environment.
He recalled his earlier promise to address the issue, adding that NESREA had commenced the operationalisation of the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024, alongside stricter compliance monitoring.
“The goal of today’s Slag Evacuation Programme in Ogijo is not an isolated initiative. It forms part of NESREA’s broader strategy to sanitise the battery recycling sector, protect vulnerable populations, and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a resilient and circular economy,” Barikor said.
He further announced plans for a Memorandum of Understanding with stakeholders to establish clear guidelines for the collection, transportation, treatment, and safe processing of slag.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, described the programme as a communal effort to explore innovative technologies for converting hazardous slag into useful material, thereby promoting circular economy principles.
He disclosed that the state had already begun implementing standardised procedures for collection, storage, and transportation of slags by accredited waste handlers.
The event, supported by GIZ Nigeria, drew representatives from the Federal Ministry of Environment, Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, Alliance for Responsible Battery Recycling, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev), facility operators, and community leaders.
