The Ogun State Government has suspended three environmental consultancy firms for professional negligence in connection with ongoing lead pollution from shuttered battery recycling plants in the Ogijo area.
The firms were responsible for auditing the now-closed Used Lead Acid Battery (ULAB) recycling companies.
An official audit revealed that required pollution control equipment, such as emission and waste management devices, had not been installed, yet the firms failed to report these deficiencies accurately.
Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, announced the suspensions on December 20, 2025, following a review meeting in Abeokuta.
"Two of the environmental consultancy firms were able to give some explanations which, though not entirely satisfactory, but were given the opportunity to amend their ways," Oresanya said.
He added that the three suspended firms "deliberately absented themselves from the review meeting, knowing fully well that they are complicit."
The commissioner emphasised that the state had no choice but to bar them from all environmental consultancy services until they clear allegations of complicity.
Five firms were initially summoned to defend their audit reports; only the three absent ones faced suspension.
The decision has been communicated to the Federal Ministry of Environment and the National Environmental Standards and Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
This latest action builds on earlier measures, including the shutdown of several ULAB facilities in late November 2025, prompted by reports of widespread lead contamination affecting residents.
