How Universal Steel Mills Bribes Government With Billions of Naira To Evade Pollution Law

To many people living near Universal Steel Mills, located in the Ikeja industrial area of Lagos State, the company is becoming a source of health hazard. The sheer siting of the factory in the area is illegal and highly dangerous for human living. A careful research on how steel mills are located around the country will indicate that the company should have been sited in non-residential or heavily industrialized area rather than its present location. According to a close source who dished out this information to us, since the establishment of Universal Steel Mills, successive leaders in the country have been having dirty deals with the company.
We gathered that immediately Chief Ernest Shonekan, former head of the Interim Government took office after the scuttling of the June 12 election by general Ibrahim Babangida, the Universal Steel Mills, knowing fully well that the fabrication of iron materials and other highly dangerous chemicals for usage in their industry were harmful to human existence, called for a truce with Chief Shonekan, who probably might not have been even aware of the fact that the operation of the steel mills in that location was dangerous. We were informed that the management of the company allegedly parted with some millions of naira back then before the Presidency could allow them go ahead with their operations.
It is noteworthy that during fabricating process, the chemicals that usually emanate are very inflammable and humanly dangerous. Again, passersby within the vicinity usually cover their noses to avoid being affected by the polluting gases. It would be recalled that the Lagos State Government under the immediate past administration of Raji Fashola (SAN) built an ultra-modern housing estate for the high and mighty in the state very close to the Universal Steel Mills and Lagosians especially those in the know are eagerly waiting to see if the new occupants of the estate will be comfortable with the activities of the Universal Steel Mills which, definitely, would affect their estate and may cause some health havoc to them and their wards.
For those who are well travelled across the country, notable steel mills are located away from residential facilities and they include Ajaokuta Steel Mills in Kogi State, Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills in Osun State, Phoenix Steel Mills In Ogijo, near Ikorodu, etc., which are all tucked kilometers away from human abode. But in the case of this Chinese-owned company, it may be business as usual under the watchful eyes of new Lagos State governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Global News shall surely be keeping you informed on developments.