The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has so far developed 36 national environmental regulations......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, NESREA Director-General, Dr. Innocent Barikor, said that the guidelines were aimed to help achieve effective environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement in the country.
The DG disclosed that in 2024, NESREA carried out criminal enforcement procedures on 96 facilities across the country for environmental infractions.
“In enforcing these national environmental legislations, the Agency carries out various forms of enforcement procedures be it administrative, civil or criminal to ensure compliance of facilities in the green and brown environment.
“Nevertheless, our ultimate goal as an Agency is to achieve a culture of voluntary compliance from the regulated community, 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. That is a promise,” he said.
Barikor reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to enforcing environmental laws and promoting sustainability in Nigeria.
He added that NESREA has also made significant progress in the battery sector, developing and gazetting the National Environmental (Battery Sector Control) Regulations, 2024.
He noted that the agency has partnered with international organizations to promote responsible battery and metal recycling.
Barikor further stated that to promote sustainability, NESREA has implemented the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme in various sectors, including food and beverage, electrical/electronics, and plastics.
The agency, he noted, has also collaborated with the European Union to conduct sensitization and capacity-building workshops for stakeholders.
He added that NESREA has confiscated over 2.5 tonnes of ivory and 3914.08 kilograms of pangolin scales, demonstrating its commitment to wildlife conservation.
Barikor called on Nigerians to support sustainable practices and report environmental crimes, emphasizing that collective action is necessary to build a cleaner and healthier Nigeria.