By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
The Ogun State Government has apprehended six individuals in Sagamu for allegedly breaking a government seal and resuming construction work on a site that had earlier been shut down for environmental violations. The suspects were arrested along Oba Erinwole Road, where they were caught continuing work despite the state’s directive halting activities on the premises.
The arrest was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) and Chairman, Ogun State Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, Hon. Farouk Akintunde, during a media briefing held at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. He emphasized that the government would no longer tolerate acts of defiance against environmental regulations and sealing orders.
According to Akintunde, the property in question, a gas station under construction, had previously been sealed by the agency for violating the environmental laws of Ogun State. However, during a routine compliance inspection, the enforcement team discovered that construction had resumed at the site, prompting immediate arrests.
He described the development as not only unlawful but also dangerous, stressing that such defiance undermines the government’s efforts to maintain environmental safety and orderliness across the state. Akintunde warned that those found culpable would face the full wrath of the law.
“Breaking a government seal is a serious offence that attracts strict punishment under the environmental laws of Ogun State,” he cautioned. “We want residents and business owners to understand that environmental compliance is non-negotiable. The government will continue to enforce the law without fear or favour.”
In addition to the Sagamu incident, Akintunde revealed that the agency also sealed a farm located within the Laderin Estate area of Abeokuta. The property was allegedly being used for rearing animals within a residential environment, a practice deemed illegal under the state’s environmental statutes.
He explained that the presence of livestock in residential areas poses serious health risks, including contamination and offensive odours, which could endanger the wellbeing of residents. The decision to seal the farm, he said, was in line with the government’s commitment to promoting a clean, safe, and healthy environment for all.
Furthermore, the enforcement team carried out another operation in Abeokuta where illegal shanties erected along major roads were demolished. Akintunde reiterated that the exercise was part of ongoing efforts to rid the state of environmental nuisances and ensure strict adherence to sanitation and land-use regulations.