The Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, OGEPA, has intervened in a dispute between Monarch Steel Mill Limited and the Olorunsogo Ipetoro Community Development Association, CDA, Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area, following a petition submitted by the community.
The petition, signed by the Chairman of the community, Michael Bilesanmi, was presented to OGEPA, drawing the agency’s attention to concerns surrounding the expansion plan of the industry.
The community also sought an investigation into the company’s acquisition of properties within the community, expressing concerns over the manner in which the exercise was being carried out.
In response to the petition, the General Manager of OGEPA, Kehinde Bello, convened a stakeholders’ meeting involving representatives of the community and the company to resolve the issues through dialogue and mutual understanding.
Speaking during the meeting on Thursday, Bello stressed the importance of proper industrial planning, noting that industries should be located within designated industrial zones. He added that environmental sustainability and the welfare of host communities must remain a priority in industrial development.
Bello explained that the expansion was part of the process of establishing a proposed buffer zone, aimed at ensuring the company’s operations do not adversely affect residents and other developed areas within the community.
The General Manager emphasised that while industries have the right to expand their operations, such expansion must be carried out in accordance with environmental regulations and with due respect for the rights of residents and property owners within the affected communities.
At the end of the deliberations, all parties agreed that the company should not compel any resident to sell his or her property. It was also resolved that only property owners who were willing to sell should be considered in the company’s acquisition process.
The resolutions reached at the meeting were unanimously accepted by all stakeholders, who expressed optimism that the agreements would promote peaceful coexistence, protect residents’ interests and ensure that industrial activities were carried out in an environmentally responsible manner.
