Guinness Nigeria PLC emerged as the overall winner of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) Lagos Industrial Pollution Abatement Awards. The awards ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, recognized industries with best environmental practices.

Guinness Nigeria PLC took top honors in the Food and Beverages category, Nigeria Bottling Company took the second position and Colgate Tolaram Pharmaceuticals clinched the third position. Other winners in various categories included:

• Pharmaceuticals Category: Mopson Pharmaceutical, with Swiss Pharmaceutical and Emzor Pharmaceutical as runners-up.
• Iron and Steel Category: Top Steel Nig. Ltd as the winner, with Land Craft Industry and Sum Flag Iron and Steel as runners-up.
• Printing and Packaging Category: Ro-marong Nig LTD winner, with Wahum Packaging and Polythene Enterprise as runners-up.
• Paint and Chemical Category: Berger Paints winner, with Hypo Hygiene Products and Multi Chem as runners-up.
• Soap and Detergent Category: Pure Hygiene Ltd winner, with Tropical Natural and Holdes International LTD as runners-up.
• Cosmetics Category: PZ Cussons winner, with Cybes Cosmetic LTD and Prestige Cosmetics Ltd as runners-up.

According to Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager of LASEPA, the award is designed to incentivize and motivate industries to adopt sustainable practices and reduce pollution.

Ajayi explained that the award criteria are based on four key parameters: the presence of abatement facilities, commitment to environmental sustainability, promotion of green activities, and documentation of carbon footprint. He noted that LASEPA has seen significant progress in compliance, with rates increasing from less than 17% to over 40%.

The LASEPA boss emphasized that the agency is committed to enforcing environmental regulations and will not hesitate to take action against serial polluters. He urged industries to comply with environmental regulations, stressing that LASEPA will continue to work towards achieving global environmental standards.

In his message to Lagos State residents, Ajayi assured that LASEPA is fully functional and committed to environmental protection. He encouraged residents to report any environmental violations, emphasizing that the agency will take prompt action to address such issues.

According to Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Environment Services, the state’s goal is to encourage businesses to prioritize sustainability and reduce environmental abuse.

Tajudeen explained that without sustainability efforts, the environment will suffer, leading to increased health issues. To address this, the state has implemented incentives to motivate companies to fall in line with environmental regulations. He said This approach aims to foster a collaborative effort between the Government and businesses to regulate themselves and promote sustainability.

The Executive Secretary of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Apapa Branch, Okpe Sunday, has assured that the organization’s members will comply with environmental regulations. He commended the Lagos State Government’s efforts in promoting sustainability and encouraging businesses to adopt environmentally friendly practices.

He praised the staff of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) for their professionalism and cooperation with industry stakeholders. Sunday expressed optimism that the award ceremony will mark the beginning of a new era of collaboration between organizations and regulatory bodies, leading to increased compliance and sustainability.

Engr. Daniel Ogwu, Corporate Head of Safety and Sustainability at Guinness Nigeria PLC, applauded the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) for its professionalism and commitment to environmental sustainability.

According to Ogwu, LASEPA has shown remarkable improvement and professionalism in its operations, making it a model agency in Lagos State. He attributed Guinness Nigeria PLC’s award to the company’s collaboration with LASEPA and its commitment to sustainability.
He said “I encourage all industries to join forces with LASEPA to promote environmental sustainability and protect our planet for future generations.”