OGEPA Brokers Peace Between Monarch Steel Mill, Ogijo Community Over Expansion Plan
The Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) has successfully intervened in a dispute between Monarch Steel Mill Limited and the Olorunsogo Ipetoro Community Development Association (CDA), Ogijo, in Sagamu Local Government Area, following concerns raised by residents over the company’s proposed expansion.
The intervention followed a petition submitted by the community, signed by its Chairman, Mr. Michael Bilesanmi, requesting the agency to investigate the company’s expansion plans and the ongoing acquisition of properties within the community.
According to the petition, residents expressed concerns over the manner in which Monarch Steel Mill was acquiring properties as part of its expansion programme and called for regulatory intervention to safeguard the interests of affected property owners.
In response, the General Manager of OGEPA, Hon. Kehinde Bello, convened a stakeholders’ meeting involving representatives of the community and Monarch Steel Mill Limited to facilitate dialogue and seek an amicable resolution.
Addressing the meeting, Hon. Bello underscored the importance of proper industrial planning, stressing that industries should be located within designated industrial zones while ensuring that environmental sustainability and the welfare of host communities remain paramount.
He explained that the company’s expansion proposal involved the establishment of a buffer zone, designed to minimise the environmental impact of industrial operations on nearby residential areas and other developed parts of the community.
The OGEPA General Manager, however, maintained that while industries have the right to expand their operations, such expansion must comply with existing environmental regulations and respect the rights of residents and property owners.
At the end of the deliberations, stakeholders reached a consensus that Monarch Steel Mill Limited must not compel any resident to sell his or her property. It was agreed that only property owners who voluntarily choose to sell would be considered in the company’s acquisition process.
The meeting also resolved that the community’s electricity transformer should be relocated within the company’s premises, with an access gate provided to ensure unrestricted access for both the company and the community. Monarch Steel Mill Limited was further directed to undertake the repair of the transformer.
Representatives of both the community and the company unanimously accepted the resolutions, expressing confidence that the agreements would promote peaceful coexistence, protect the rights of residents, and ensure that industrial development is carried out in an environmentally responsible manner.
The mediation reflects OGEPA’s commitment to balancing industrial growth with environmental protection, community welfare, and sustainable development across Ogun State.
— Luke Adebesin
Information and Public Relations Officer, OGEPA
