*Advocates For Special Court To try Environmental Cases
*Says The Agency Has Prosecuted Over 90 Cases

The Director-General/CEO, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Aliyu Jauro, has stated that the Agency will continue to collaborate with the relevant stakeholders and regulatory bodies to ensure that recycling of commodities is enforced as against the environmentally unsustainable practice of burning towards ensuring better environmental standards in the country.

Announcing this during a press conference held at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Prof. Jauro expressed the Agency’s strong displeasure over continued open burning in the country and emphasized that the practice was unjustifiable even with respect to contraband goods seized by government agencies.

To this end, he hinted on engagements and cooperations between the Agency, NAFDAC, and the NDLEA towards addressing the trend which is of immense harm to the environment.

In further condemning the act of burning, he said such goods should be recycled and there are specialized burning equipment that can be used to dispose of these items without negatively impacting on the environment.

According to him, “We have formalized what is called Producer Responsibility Organization(PRO), which has to do with Food And Beverages Recycling Alliance (FOBRA) and it has commenced the collection of recycling of plastics.

“For Extended Personal Responsibility (EPR), the Agency has already formalized on 3 sectors.

“Presently, we have about 13 companies that are involved. Recently the Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria visited us and we advised them to join the FOBRA, to enable them have the empty sachet water collected and recycled.

“We have also written to several organizations in Nigeria, including Nigerian Customs to help us get the list of all those importing Electrical electronics equipments so that we can make it mandatory for them to subscribe to EPR,  and they must make provisions for the amount required for recycling before manufacturing.

“We have the battery sector and we are working with relevant agencies, we will ensure that they register with the right PRO before they can be allowed to participate in some of the programs.

He also added that NESREA is planning to formalize the next PRO, which is the waste Pipes and chemicals Sectors as well as the Metalic Sector. The DG noted that the chemical sector is a major environmental challenge.

Speaking on the National Vehicular Emissions Control Program and Generator Emissions Control Program, Prof Jauro, said the programs are yet to start.
However, the Agency is currently in talks with stakeholders to get the Road TaskForce involved.

He added that some states have started collecting money from car owners for the renewal of licenses on emission without actually carrying out test.

“What we are trying to do is to harmonize and have a common standard to enable us monitor emissions from the vehicles and again to safeguard the environment.  By 2022 we will launch the National Emission Control Programs.

Speaking on the procurement of Personal Protective Equipments (PPE), and the amount spent on renovating state offices as well as the relocation to the head office,  Prof. Jauro pointed out that PPE is professional wears which comprise of several kits/items as they are highly consumable and needs to replaced after few months.

He also said that the PPE is not only meant for the Agency’s office in Abuja but also for the 34 states in the federation. Hence the need for the PPE to enable the Agency to carry out its mandates effectively.  He, therefore, lamented that the agency is only managing the little budgetary allocation given to her.

On the issue of CITES, the DG stated that it is NESREA that has the mandate to ensure compliance with the convention and to prosecute offenders.

He noted that in its bid to ensure convention on international trade of endangered species of flora and fauna, the agencies has seized several specimens such as Elephant tusk, worked, semi-worked Ivory, Pangolin Scales, Rhino Horn in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service, National Center Bureau (NCB) Interpol.

“Presently, about 2,972 pieces of Elephant tusk and ivories weighing 1,3851.55kg, as well as 74 pieces of non-elephant ivories weighing 98.50kg and 27 sacks + Leather Bag weighing 290.05kg are in the Agency’s custody as seized items.

“Initially the Agency was present at the Ports and Borders, working with Nigerian Customs but when the FG came up with the policy on ‘Easy of Doing Business,’ the Agency was directed to leave the port.

“Whenever there was an activity for NESREA, they usually invite us to take over and to prosecute the culprit. But since we are no longer there they decided to stop inviting us. Though we are in touch with them and we have also written to the Vice President on the need for the Agency to get back to the Ports and Borders.”

Jauro who canvassed for a special court to facilitate speedy closure of cases on environmental matters lamented the slow pace of environmental cases.

He, however, pointed out that NESREA, has prosecuted over 93 cases and that currently, 9 matters are ongoing, while 2 are before an Appeal Court.

He also said “The Agency carries out enforcement exercise to erring facilities, industries and businesses who refuse to abide by set standards and environmental obligations.

“Facilities that have been issued with at least 3 letters of Notification of Concerns or 3 Abatement Notices and still refuse to take actions on the recommendations on the concern are sealed (carrot and stick approach) until penalties are paid.

“Sometime this year, the Agency carried out such exercise in 24 States of the Federation where a total of 89 facilities were sealed. Some of these facilities were dragged before the court of Law for appropriate sanctions,” Jauro stated.

On the use of certain technologies, he said the Agency has the mandate to prohibit the use of technology or process that will undermine environmental quality.  For the installation of 5G Mask, he noted that the Agency has the mandate to sure that whatever is deployed will not affect the health of humans and animals.

“We always engage the telecoms whenever they want to deploy mask and there are certain criteria. We have a Regulation with the National Telecommunications Sector to ensure that what they want to erect does not violate the regulations,” he noted.

However, he said there’s no scientific proof that has confirmed that the 5G affects human life but that all Technology should be used with caution.

Speaking on the areas he would like to improve on, if more funds are allocated to the NESREA, Prof Jauro, said he would like to strengthen the enforcement Infrastructure, get 4 by 4 Vehicles to enable the staff go for their inspections, enforcements irrespective of the location and the road, without any hitch. Traning of staff which he said is very expensive though vital, equipping the 2 National Reference Laboratories, getting more laboratories at least one for each geopolitical zone, befitting working environment, getting more handed equipment, and so on.

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