PERM. SEC. VISITS NESREA, READS RIOT ACT TO MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES

The new Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Abel Enitan Olumuyiwa, Tuesday paid a maiden visit to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA.

Mr. Olumuyiwa was accompanied by the Director Human Resources and the Director Special Duties, and was received on arrival by the Director General of NESREA, Prof. Aliyu Jauro and the top management staff of the Agency.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary took a swipe at attitude of some multinational companies who fail to align with the provisions of environmental regulations in their different sectors, saying that some of them operate in a double standard.

“They cannot afford to deal with us negatively here and back home in their countries do the right thing. They have no choice but to comply with the regulations in Nigeria.”

He urged NESREA to step up engagement activities with such companies and sanction when necessary.

The Perm. Sec. called on NESREA to continue with the good work it was doing. “NESREA is a strategic Agency that must be nurtured and made to have the desired impact. You will get all the needed support. Even without you asking, we will give you the support”, he added.

He also stressed the need for capacity building for staff to enhance their productivity and also regular sensitization of the populace.

Earlier in his presentation, the Director General of NESREA, Prof. Aliyu Jauro intimated the Perm. Sec. with the programmes and activities of the Agency.

Prof. Jauro said the Environmental Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement activities of the Agency had led to the sanctioning of at least 180 facilities in the country.

He also disclosed that several specimens prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, CITES such as Elephant tusk, worked, semi worked Ivory, Rhino Horn etc  had been confiscated in collaboration with relevant enforcement Agencies.

Prof. Jauro listed some of the ongoing projects in the Agency as the Extended Producer Responsibility Programme, EPR; The National Vehicular Emission Control Programme NVECP; and the National Generator Emission Control Programme, NGECP.