Lagos Shuts 5 Oil Companies, 4 Others

pmnews-placeholder

The Lagos State Government today shut down five oil companies and four others at Kirikiri area of Lagos, South West Nigeria for violating the environmental laws of the state.

Officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, escortedby the taskforce officials carried out the closure of the affected companies for failing to keep their environment clean and safe for the residents.

The five oil companies shut by the team led by the Head, E-waste Unit, LASEPA, Mr. Kayode Bello, are Techno Oil, Fatgbems Oil, Bovas Oil, Index Petroleum and Swift Oil.

Other affected companies are Majen Rai Portland Cement, Jannock Nigeria Limited, Scolet Ventures Nigeria Limited and Cappa de Alberto.

According to LASEPA, the five oil companies and Majen Rai Portland Cement were shut for siting tank farms in an area less than 200 metres away from residential place; operating tank farm without submission of Environmental Impact Assessment report to the agency and non-submission of appropriate contingency plans.

Jannock Nigeria Limited was shut for allegedly allowing choking odour to emanate from the company; non-submission of appropriate Environmental Impact Assessment report and poor aesthetics of the premises.

Scolet Ventures Nigeria Limited was also shut over alleged usage of carcinogenic chemical in residential building, operating in a residential building and emission of toxic and pungent odour into the environment.

Cappa de Alberto was closed over air pollution and violation of the Memorandum of Understanding it reached with the government.

According to LASEPA General Manager, Engr. Rasheed Shabi, the affected companies were duly served abatement notices to comply with the environmental laws of the state.

Shabi said the agency had no choice than to shut down their premises when they failed to comply with the directive.

Affected companies would also be made to pay fine for allegedly breaching the laws of the state.

Related News

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods has sealed 20 illegal drugs stores and arrested five illegal operators at Gowon and Shagari estates in Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area of the state.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, explained that the exercise was necessitated by the excesses of illegal drug operators in the area and in continuation of the Task Force’s mandate to sanitise the drug distribution system in the state.

“Government’s effort to streamline the activities of operators in the drug sector was borne out of its zeal to stop the inherent dangers associated with the peddling of fake, substandard and expired drugs by unauthorised and unregistered drug and pharmaceutical outlets.

“By the provision of the pharmaceutical laws, pharmaceutical premises cannot be located in motor parks and environment where commercial activities take place like in the market or by using kiosks, road-side stores and containers as pharmaceutical stores,” he said, adding that the law also frowns at pharmaceutical stores built very close together.

The commissioner wondered why the people still chose to stay on the wrong side of the law, adding that the provisions of the law as stipulated by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Act of 1992 and the Registration of Pharmaceutical Premises Regulation Law of 2005 outline the requirements for registration and renewal of pharmaceutical premises, culpability and punishment for offenders.

He listed the sealed drug stores to include: the one located on 154, Dopemu Road, Agege; PM Stores 18, Awori Street, Akinogun Ipaja; Pishon Pharmacy at 21, Church Street, Shagari Estate; Nwosu Chemist at 110, Olarenwanju Street, Dopemu; and Brighter Star Pharmacy at 2, Command -Meiran Road, Atapa Ajasa.

Others are Moreira Shop located at 2 Fiwakes Olaniyi Street Ajasa Command; Elijah Chemist at 3, Olaniyi Street, Ajasa, Command; Omega Store at 2, Command Road, Ajasa; Uzoken Store at 42, Road, Navy quarters Gowon Estate, Egbeda; El-Rhema Patent Medicine & Stores at 52, Road, Gowon Estate; Jemimah Patent Med. Shop on 5th Avenue Gowon Estate roundabout; Uppervision Global Pharmacy at 31 Road, 3rd Avenue, Gowon Estate; and Fundek Store at B08 Shagari Estate, with three unnamed stores, one at DH 24, Shagari Estate, Command Road, Ajasa and Ayobo Road, Ipaja.

Idris noted that the affected shops were sealed for offences ranging from sales of drugs without license from the regulatory authority; failure to relocate from a market area and adherence to the mandated distance between a patent medicine shop and market place as stipulated by the law; and sales of counterfeit and fake drugs amongst others.

The raid was conducted in conjunction with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharmaceutical Inspectors Committee (PIC), and Officers of the Nigerian Police Force from the state command

—Kazeem Ugbodaga

Load more