NESREA seals 269 facilities over violations

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has conducted environmental compliance monitoring at 8,122 corporate facilities across the country and sealed 269 for various infractions or violations.

The Director General of NESREA, Prof Aliyu Jauro, while briefing the press, said the agency also rewarded organisations that complied with its environmental laws.

He said, “The agency is not quick to sanction facilities, but painstakingly seeks to prod erring facilities into compliance by issuing notices of compliance concerns and abatement notices after compliance monitoring visits to the facilities. It is only when these facilities refuse to comply with the provisions of the notification of compliance concerns and/or after numerous visits that the agency goes ahead to sanction them.

“The agency encourages voluntary compliance, hence the very rigorous steps it takes before any facility is sanctioned for non-compliance.”

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He further said that in order to encourage voluntary compliance and in promoting best practices and adopting sustainability in the operations of industries and organisations, the agency would be awarding the National Environmental Compliance Award (NECA) to 16 deserving facilities in different sectors who had complied with the regulations, standards and guidelines set out in the NESREA Act.

Jauro said the awards would be presented by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He explained that the rating of the facilities was done based on possession of certified environmental documentation, current permits, adoption and installation of efficient pollution abatement equipment, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), among others.

He explained that, “These awards, we believe, will re-awaken the consciousness of the regulated community on the need for compliance with environmental regulations and thereby join in the effort being made towards sustainable development.”