The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, has refuted claims that residents of Ogijo in Sagamu Local Government Area were exposed to widespread lead toxicity.
Speaking on Adamimogo FM Lagos, Oresanya said investigations conducted by the state government showed that out of more than 400 residents reportedly exposed to lead poisoning, only one person tested positive for elevated levels of lead in the body.
However, the commissioner acknowledged that the site previously occupied by a lead-acid battery recycling company recorded lead contamination above acceptable limits. He noted that remediation efforts have already commenced to address the environmental impact and restore the affected area.
The Commissioner insisted that the videos circulating online were an exaggeration and not a true representation of the facts.
Recall that in November last year, the Ogun State Government announced the closure of seven factories involved in lead-acid battery recycling along the Ogijo axis over concerns about possible lead poisoning.
The development followed the circulation of a video on social media in which residents of the community alleged exposure to lead contamination and raised concerns about its effects on their health.
