The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Tuesday sealed no fewer than eight factories for environmental pollution offences in Lagos State.
NESREA is an agency under the Federal Ministry of Environment saddled with responsibility of enforcing all environmental laws, guidelines, policies, standards and regulations in the country.
The Director-General of the Agency, Prof. Aliyu Jauro who confirmed the sealing to newsmen in Lagos also threatened further legal actions should the erring industries fail to comply with the Agency’s regulations.
Prof. Jauro represented by Mrs. Glory Uboh informed newsmen that these facilities were sealed during a nationwide enforcement by NESREA officers.
She said the activities of these industries posed serious dangers to the environment which runs contrary to the thirty three (33) gazetted environmental regulations being enforced by of the agency.
The Director, NESREA Lagos Laison Officer, Dr. Stephen Otitologbon added that over the years, NESREA has organised workshops, seminars and sensitizations to enlighten the regulated community to encourage voluntary compliance. He however decried the level of violations leaves a lot to be desired hence the need for this on-the-spot check to identify violators. He therefore enjoined Nigerians to serve as environmental watch dogs by reporting facilities who indulge in processes that undermine environmental quality.
Some of the affected facilities are Dana Plast limited, Erisco foods limited, Nivafer steel construction and Pulkit Alloy and Steel limited. Others include Femina Hygienical Products Nigeria limited, Bua Sugar Refinery limited, Morison Industries limited and Daily Needs Industries.
The Agency reaffirmed that this is an ongoing process carried out without warning and all defaulting companies will be sanctioned when apprehended and appropriate penalties slammed on culprits.
