In response to recent allegations linking Renecon Limited to the mortality of Epe Tilapia fish, the management of the firm has denied any wrongdoing, labeling the accusations as baseless and unfounded. This is even as it attributed the fish mortality to the proliferation of water hyacinth in the area.
The company asserts that it operates within the confines of environmental regulations and maintains a commitment to environmental stewardship.
In an official press release made available to our correspondent, the company noted that the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) on Sunday 17th March, 2024 conducted a visit to the site of Renecon in Epe Local Government Area of the state, following a viral social media video report by tilapia fish farmers, implicating Renecon’s activities as the cause of the fish deaths in Ebute Afuye Cluster of EPE.
However, Renecon refuted claims that LASEPA provided prior notice of their visit or allowed the company’s representatives to witness the collection of samples for investigation. The company questioned the validity of the accusations and expressed concern over what it perceives as a targeted effort to tarnish its reputation.
The statement informed that the Executive Chairman of Epe local government, Princess Surah Olayemi Animashaun has absolved Renecon from maritime infractions, attributing the fish mortality to the proliferation of water hyacinth in the area.
Renecon highlighted the seasonal presence of water hyacinth as a known environmental challenge impacting water quality and marine life in Epe.
The Managing Director of Renecon Limited, Mr. Anthony Bademosi disclosed that this is not the first time the company has faced such allegations and suggested the involvement of powerful interests seeking to undermine its operations in Epe. He emphasized Renecon’s compliance with environmental laws and its positive relationship with local stakeholders.
In response to the situation, Badamosi stressed that Renecon has engaged legal counsel to identify the individuals behind the allegations and plans to take appropriate action to protect its interests. He also reiterated the company’s commitment to community engagement and environmental responsibility, citing initiatives such as road maintenance, waste management, and provision of clean water for the community.
Mr. Bademosi concluded by asserting Renecon’s resilience in the face of adversity, affirming the company’s integrity and determination to overcome challenges posed by detractors.
According to the Renecon boss, traditional fish farmers and informed stakeholders were of the opinion that water hyacinth which is a seasonal environmental malice impacting on water transportation and lives of marine resources and fisheries in the state, and in particular Epe area caused the death of the caged tilapia fishes as the vegetation covered and heated up the lagoon surface and drastically reduced the oxygen levels under water needed for fishes and other marine resources to survive.
To ensure that its activities are citizens-centric, Mr Bademosi further informed that Renecon maintains and repairs all the roads within its operational environment, employ sweepers in collaboration with Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to ensure clean environment, constructed speed bumps to control speed by truckers and other road users around the vicinity, employ traffic controllers, and also provide clean water through a borehole for the community.
In his words: “We believe that some powerful interests, using the instruments of State agencies, want to get rid of us in EPE. Renecon Limited operates under extant laws both within the federal and state government environmental rubrics. We have conducted our activities well and are in good terms with our local stakeholders, so for some faceless and alleged fish farmers to want to frame us as the oxygenators of the unfortunate mortality of caged tilapia fishes in EPE is not only pedestrian, but a failed clever diversionary tactics to bring us down.
“We have done our best to cooperate with LASEPA in their investigations in the past, and are ready to cooperate with them now and in the future. However, a situation where our representatives are not allowed to witness the collection of samples is unacceptable to us.
“Furthermore, we have informed our lawyers to help us track down the persons behind the very unsavory petition with hope to call them out for targeting to disrupt our operations and also set us up against the community which has been supportive of our presence here.
“Conclusively, we made it a point of duty to comply with environmental laws because we are a responsible company, and our integrity is top notch, so those who wants to bring us down, will fail and fail again” Bademosi said.
