The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency has sealed the Sunseed Oil facility in Zaria, Kaduna State, in a decisive move aimed at addressing environmental concerns.
This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the agency’s Assistant Director of Press, Nwamaka Ejiofor, on Tuesday.
The statement noted that the enforcement exercise was a response to reports of persistent air pollution caused by excessive air emissions from the facility, in flagrant violation of the National Environmental (Air Quality Control) Regulations, which provide for the installation of pollution abatement equipment and cleaner production.
“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.
“This enforcement action is in line with the commitment of NESREA to ensure industrial compliance and the protection of the public from the hazardous effects of unregulated industrial discharges (air pollutants and effluents).
“The Director General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, warns industrial operators to ensure full compliance with National Environmental Regulations and avoid actions that impact negatively on the health of the citizens and the environment,” it concluded.
Excessive industrial air emissions have become a growing concern in many parts of the country, especially in industrial clusters located close to residential communities.
Such emissions are known to contribute to respiratory illnesses, environmental degradation and reduced quality of life for residents.
Under the National Environmental (Air Quality Control) Regulations, industries are required to install functional pollution control equipment, adopt cleaner production technologies and regularly monitor emissions to ensure they remain within permissible limits.
NESREA has repeatedly warned that failure to comply with these requirements would attract sanctions, including sealing of facilities, fines and possible prosecution.
NESREA has in recent years intensified enforcement actions against industries found to be operating in breach of Nigeria’s environmental laws, particularly 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 treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.
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