NESREA Steps Up Environmental Awareness Campaign, Unveils New Regulations

Abuja, Nigeria – The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) is stepping up its efforts to protect Nigeria’s environment by raising public awareness and updating regulations, Director General Dr. Innocent Barikor announced at a press conference yesterday.

Dr. Barikor emphasised the agency’s achievements over the past year, including a stronger partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

NESREA aims to provide critical environmental information and early warning alerts for potential disasters to every Nigerian by leveraging NOA’s extensive network across all 774 local government areas.

This expanded outreach supplemented NESREA’s existing state-level sensitisation programs.

Dr. Barikor acknowledged the need for updated environmental regulations, revealing that NESREA is reviewing and amending outdated rules while developing new ones to address emerging environmental challenges.

Several important regulations are nearing completion or have already been published, including revisions to the National Environmental (Permitting and Licensing Systems) Regulations 2009 and the National Environmental (International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora) Regulations 2011.

The National Environmental (Battery Sector Control) Regulations 2024 are now in effect, and work is being done on the National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations.

These updated regulations are intended to improve air quality, protect the environment, and reduce exposure to hazardous substances.

Over the past year, NESREA has issued 878 Air Quality, Waste, and Toxic Substance Permits, demonstrating its commitment to effective enforcement.

In addition, to improve service delivery and responsiveness, the agency has reorganised its operational offices in several states, establishing three in Lagos and one in each of Ogun, Nasarawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Niger, and Kano.

Looking ahead to 2025, Dr. Barikor prioritised upgrading NESREA’s three reference laboratories to ensure peak performance and reliable data for environmental impact assessments and criminal prosecutions.

Dr. Barikor concluded by encouraging all Nigerians to actively participate in environmental protection, report environmental crimes, and adopt sustainable practices, thus aligning NESREA’s efforts with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”