Taiwo Popoola
The Senate, on Thursday, raised serious concerns over a rapidly escalating lead-poisoning crisis in Ogijo, a heavily populated community bordering Ikorodu in Lagos and the Ogun East Senatorial District, describing it as a grave environmental and public-health emergency threatening thousands of residents.
The alarm followed a motion of urgent national importance jointly sponsored by Senators Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru (Lagos East) and Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East), brought pursuant to Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 (as amended).
Lawmakers cited verified scientific investigations linking extreme lead contamination in the area to a cluster of used lead-acid battery recycling factories that had operated for years with minimal oversight.
According to the motion, residents have been grappling with severe health complications, including persistent headaches, abdominal pain, memory loss, seizures, Cognitive decline, and developmental delays in children, classic symptoms of long-term lead exposure.
The Senate noted that the Federal Government had already begun enforcement actions, including the shutdown of seven battery-recycling factories by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and a temporary suspension of lead-ingot exports pending further safety investigations.
“It is deeply troubling that despite years of community complaints, smelting operations continued unabated, releasing toxic fumes and particulate dust into surrounding homes, schools, markets, and playgrounds,” the Senate observed, expressing worry that community exposure remains dangerously high.
Lawmakers also referenced recent independent testing commissioned by The Examination and The New York Times, which revealed alarmingly high lead levels in residents’ blood samples and soil within the industrial belt.
Some environmental readings, they noted, were “up to 186 times above the global maximum safety limit.”
A disturbing dimension of the crisis, senators added, is that lead processed in Ogijo has already entered global supply chains, reaching international battery and automobile manufacturers who either failed to act or relied solely on assurances from local suppliers.
While acknowledging that some operators deny wrongdoing, the Senate lamented ongoing gaps in Nigeria’s regulatory enforcement that have allowed hazardous practices to persist.
It, however, commended the early interventions by the Lagos and Ogun State Governments, noting their initial inspections, public-awareness drives, and collaboration with federal agencies to contain the unfolding disaster.
Citing Sections 14(2)(b) and 20 of the 1999 Constitution, lawmakers emphasised the responsibility of government at all levels to protect citizens’ welfare and ensure a safe, habitable environment.
After an extensive debate, the Senate resolved to commend both the Federal Government and the Lagos and Ogun State Governments for swiftly shutting down non-compliant facilities.
It called for sustained enforcement, including further factory closures, export suspensions, prosecution of violators, and stronger industrial-safety monitoring nationwide.
The Senate mandated the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, to deploy emergency medical teams to Ogijo to conduct free toxicology tests, blood-lead screening, chelation therapy, and long-term treatment for both children and adults affected.
The Federal Ministry of Environment and NESREA were directed to undertake a comprehensive environmental cleanup, including soil, air, groundwater and household-dust mapping.
Lawmakers also urged the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals and other regulatory authorities to strictly enforce operational standards for all battery-recycling and lead-processing facilities across the country.
The Senate recommended the establishment of a National Lead Poisoning Response and Remediation Task Force under NEMA, while directing the Committee on Legislative Compliance to monitor implementation and report back within six weeks.
The chamber described the Ogijo contamination as a preventable disaster and a stark national warning about industrial pollution, regulatory failures, and the urgent need to safeguard vulnerable communities from hazardous waste.
