NESREA storms Kogi, Abaji, FCT, shuts down facilities over environmental infractions

From Idu Jude Abuja

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, (NESREA), has sealed two facilities in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria and Abaji, in the Federal Capital Territory for violating extant environmental laws.

Geld Construction Limited located in Abaji and Arno Energy, a charcoal production facility in Okaba, Kogi State were shut down for not conducting  Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of their facilities, not having requisite  environmental documents  such as Air Quality Permit, Environmental Audit Report and Waste Management Permit.

The regulatory requirements are important in maintaining standards across all facilities . The EIA provides guidance on mitigating the negative impact of a facility’s operations on the environment.

The facilities also were not carrying out their activities in an environmentally friendly manner leading to negative impact on the residents of the host communities and their environment.

Procedural steps, including the issuance of notices of compliance concerns, had been taken to compel the facilities to abate their infractions, and their failure to do so led to the closure of the facilities to save human health and the environment.

The Director General of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Barikor hereby enjoins industry operators to ensure their activities and operations are in line with the provisions of the law.