Aliyu Nazifi, Kaduna
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed the Sunseed Oil facility located in Zaria, Kaduna State, over alleged air pollution.
This is contained in a statement signed by the agency’s Assistant Director of Press, Mrs. Nwamaka Ejiofor, and made available to journalists on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the enforcement action followed reports of persistent air pollution caused by excessive emissions from the facility, in violation of the National Environmental (Air Quality Control) Regulations.
It noted that the regulations require industries to install pollution abatement equipment and adopt cleaner production processes.
“The severity of the emissions, which posed an immediate threat to the surrounding ecosystem and the health of nearby residents, led to the immediate closure of the facility,” the statement said.
It added that the action was part of NESREA’s commitment to ensuring industrial compliance and protecting the public from the harmful effects of unregulated industrial discharges.
“This enforcement action is in line with NESREA’s commitment to ensuring industrial compliance and protecting the public from the hazardous effects of unregulated industrial discharges, including air pollutants and effluents,” it said.
The statement quoted the Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, as warning industrial operators to ensure full compliance with national environmental regulations.
“Industrial operators must avoid actions that negatively impact the health of citizens and the environment,” Barikor said.
NESREA noted that excessive industrial air emissions have become a growing concern, particularly in industrial clusters located close to residential communities.
It explained that such emissions contribute to respiratory illnesses, environmental degradation and a reduced quality of life for residents.
Under the National Environmental (Air Quality Control) Regulations, the agency said industries are required to install functional pollution control equipment, adopt cleaner production technologies and regularly monitor emissions to ensure they remain within permissible limits.
It reiterated that failure to comply with these requirements would attract sanctions, including the sealing of facilities, fines and possible prosecution.
NESREA added that it has, in recent years, intensified enforcement actions against industries operating in breach of Nigeria’s environmental laws, especially those relating to air quality, effluent discharge and waste management.
The agency, established under the NESREA Act of 2007, is mandated to enforce compliance with national environmental standards and international environmental treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.
