The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, recently sealed off recycling facilities in Ogijo community in Ogun State.

The sealing followed the failure of the operators to comply with the provisions of the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024 and the protocol developed by NESREA to ensure environmentally sound management of used lead-acid batteries and safeguard the health of residents and the environment.

Under the protocol, the facilities committed to managing ULAB slag and base metal residues in a safe, environmentally sound, and socially responsible manner, and to prioritise staff health and safety, including annual blood-lead testing and provision of personal protective equipment.

The recyclers, as part of their duty to the host community and environmental responsibility, are to conduct annual environmental impact audits on surrounding communities, transition to cleaner recycling technologies, and participate in pilot projects for slag reuse for bricks and cement raw materials.

NESREA, in collaboration with the Ogun State Government and other partners under the Project for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling (PROBAMET), had carried out extensive assessment and sensitisation of the operators in the sector on international best practices in the recycling industry.

Despite these engagements and the moratorium provided for operators to upgrade their technology, the Agency’s inspections continued to reveal serious environmental violations of the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations, 2024 (S.I. No. 11), including:

• Improper battery breaking and acid management — discharge of untreated lead-contaminated acid and effluent directly into the environment, with inadequate or non-functional neutralisation systems and effluent treatment plants;
• Uncontrolled lead dust emissions — poor containment and ventilation, allowing fugitive lead dust to escape within plants and into nearby residential areas;
• Slag mismanagement — hazardous slag stored in open heaps and, in some cases, sold illegally to residents and truck drivers for landfilling and construction;
• Worker exposure and poor health surveillance — absence of documented medical monitoring and regular blood-lead testing for employees handling hazardous materials;
• Incomplete documentation — failure to provide current Environmental Audit Reports, relevant permits, or other required documents.