The director-general of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Agency (NESREA), Dr. Innocent Barikor has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strict adherence to environmental sustainability regulations by manufacturers in the sector, in order to comply with international best practices.
During a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the DG announced that NESREA has developed 36 National Environmental Regulations and various National Environmental Guidelines through its Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Framework.
Barikor emphasised the agency’s intention to eliminate facilities that engage in activities harmful to the environment and public health. He noted that NESREA is currently prosecuting over 96 facilities that have been sealed off nationwide due to various environmental infractions.
“The ultimate goal of NESREA is to foster a culture of voluntary compliance among regulated communities. In 2024, the agency initiated criminal enforcement procedures against 96 defiant facilities across various states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for their environmental violations. NESREA will continue this enforcement as long as these facilities fail to meet their obligations to the environment. That is our commitment,” he stated.
Additionally, the DG announced that the agency would publicly disclose the names of facilities that violated the seals placed by NESREA’s enforcement team. These facilities, located in Katsina and Abuja, will face penalties accordingly.
Regarding the battery sector, Barikor highlighted significant progress in regulating unpermitted products. With support from various development partners, particularly the German government, NESREA has established the National Battery Sector Control Regulations 2024. This regulation addresses the management of used batteries and related environmental issues while ensuring that recycling contributes significantly to the development of a circular economy.
“NESREA has long promoted the implementation of a circular economy in Nigeria through the Extended Producers Responsibility Programme,” he added.
Barikor noted that this initiative has already begun in the food and beverage sectors, as well as in the electrical and electronics sectors. “We plan to include sectors related to batteries, used tires, and soon plastic waste. An unregulated environment leads to serious consequences. As electric vehicles become more widespread, we must consider what happens to used and discarded products, including tires and plastics,” he said.
The agency, in collaboration with the European Union, has conducted a series of awareness and capacity-building workshops for stakeholders, including the judiciary, media and construction sector, as an essential first step toward environmental sensitisation.
Barikor emphasised the continuous development of NESREA staff as a priority, enhancing efficiency and productivity. The agency is working with independent partners such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Africa Nature Investors, the EU, USAID and others to provide training in various critical areas.
Barikor also reported on NESREA’s efforts in wildlife conservation, which include the arrest and confiscation of over 2.5 tonnes of ivory and 3,941.08 kilogrammes of pangolin scales. These items were linked to the illegal wildlife trade, reinforcing Nigeria’s zero tolerance for wildlife trafficking.
Looking ahead, Barikor stated that in 2025, NESREA plans to introduce additional regulations aimed at enhancing the agency’s oversight capabilities. These will include measures for the decarbonisation of facilities and the decommissioning of inactive government facilities.
Established in 2007, NESREA is the environmental agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, tasked with ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment for Nigerians. The agency operates under the NESREA Act, which empowers it to enforce all environmental laws, guidelines, policies, standards and regulations in Nigeria.
