The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) said it carried out criminal enforcement on 96 recalcitrant facilities across the country, including the FCT, in 2024 for environmental infractions.
Dr Innocent Barikor, the Director-General of NESREA, who stated this at a news conference on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, in Abuja, said that the agency would continue with the enforcement as long as such facilities failed to live up to their obligations.
Barikor said that, in order to achieve effective environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement, NESREA had so far developed 36 National Environmental Regulations, as well as various National Environmental Guidelines.
He said that in enforcing these national environmental legislations, the agency carried out various forms of enforcement procedures, both administrative, civil or criminal to ensure compliance of facilities in the green and brown environment.
He said that the ultimate goal of the agency is to achieve a culture of voluntary compliance from the regulated community.
According to him, this is where facility operators proactively adhere to extant environmental legislations without the need for criminal enforcement action.
“NESREA would continue to do that as long as such facilities fail to live up to their obligations towards the environment,” Barikor said.
Barikor said that the the agency made a landmark progress in the Battery Sector which had been unregulated for so long by developing and gazzetting.
He said this was achieved with the support of some development partners, such as the German Government (GIZ), the National Environmental (Battery Sector Control) Regulations, 2024.
“This sector has hitherto, been plagued with indiscriminate and improper handling of Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULABs) which are associated with severe environmental and health hazards,” he said.
He said that the agency had taken steps to promote awareness on the circular economy model in Nigeria.
“NESREA has over the years commenced the implementation of the circular economy principles in the country through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme.
“Implementation has commenced particularly in the Food and Beverage, Electrical/Electronics, Batteries, Used Tyres, Domestic Plastics, Rubber and Foam, (and soon to-be Plastic Waste) Sectors,” he said.
He said the continuous development of the capacity of members of staff of the agency was paramount for efficiency and improved productivity.
“NESREA as an agency works hard to afford Nigerians and all who reside in Nigeria a better environment in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“This we cannot achieve alone, without the support of Nigerians.
“I urge all Nigerians to be true environmental watchdogs, by blowing the whistle on any crime or infraction that affects the environment while supporting sustainable practices.
“Together, we can build a cleaner and healthier Nigeria for all,” he said.
By Doris Esa