No More Business As Usual, Warns NESREA DG/CEO

If the declaration made by the new Director-General/CEO of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), at his Maiden Press Briefing is anything to go by then it is time for erring facilities or violators of environmental regulations to sit up – or face sanctions.

Professor Aliyu Jauro the newly appointed DG/CEO of NESREA stated that with the new amendment of the NESREA Act, the era when facilities acted with impunity is over.  He was speaking at a Press briefing on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at the Agency’s Conference room in Abuja.

The Director-General explained that the lapses and inefficiencies that characterized the previous Act has been addressed to enable the realization of its mandate.

Prof. Jauro told Journalists that all the ambiguities and inconsistences that impeded the smooth running of the Agency has been removed and now the Agency is in poised to effectively carry out compliance monitoring and enforcement in the industries as well as the built environment.

He therefore called on members of the public to familiarize themselves with environmental laws, regulations, standards, guidelines, policies and the provisions of international environmental agreements to which NESREA is a signatory; to ensure  environmentally sound disposal of waste (solid, liquid and gaseous); obtain relevant permits, licenses, clearances; to obtain environmental Impact Statement/Certificates from the Federal Ministry of Environment, before mobilizing to sites and also adhere to the Environmental Audit Cycles.

The Director-General also wants Nigerians to observe the proper use of environmentally sound technologies to mitigate the effects of climate change and the relevant facilities to subscribe to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programmes.

He disclosed further that all industrial facilities and the business community are by this notice advised to carry out their activities within the scope of the environmental laws of the country as necessary actions shall be undertaken to observe any breach of the law.

Prof. Jauro, appointed from the background of the Abubakar Tawawa Balewa University insisted that protecting the environment is a task Nigerians should defer to adding that “the environment is you and me; do your bit and I do mine, and we get results”.

He then congratulated the Press for their efforts in creating awareness for the Agency and urged them to do more to ensure the Agency is moved forward.