Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has threatened to close down all facilities in the country that fail to obey all environmental laws and subsequently put the lives of Nigerians at risk.
The Director-General of NESREA, Professor Aliyu Jauro, who address journalists at the sealing off of 15 facilities that contravened environmental laws in Abuja, said the clampdown of erring facilities would move to all states in the country.
He said the agency was ready to ensure that no room is allowed for environmental pollution and its adverse effect on the health and wellbeing of not only human but other living things in the country.
Jauro had led a team from NESREA and security agency to seal off a total of 15 facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for various forms of environmental violation.
He explained that the agency decided on the clampdown of the facilities after several environmental infractions and disregard to comply with notices that were issued to them.
He disclosed that the agency had followed due process in clamping down on the establishments, adding that: “Before enforcement, we embark on compliance monitoring and issue the necessary warning to defaulting facilities. Some of their offences include not conducting Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Audit and these are some of the measures which had been put in place to safeguard the environment.”
Jauro lamented the high level of non-compliance in the construction sector, where 12 facilities were sealed, noting that the refusal of developers to adhere to regulatory provisions had led to loss of lives and property.
He promised that the exercise would be replicated in all states of the federation.
The NESREA boss, therefore, urged Nigerians to abide by environmental regulations as well as report offenders.
