By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed off a rice processing facility in Kano State, Fortune Rice Mills Limited, over alleged non-compliance with environmental regulations.
The agency said the enforcement action followed investigations into public complaints bordering on dust emissions and offensive odour emanating from the facility despite several compliance notices earlier issued to the company.
This was disclosed in a statement by Assistant Director (Press), Nwamaka Ejiofor, on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the enforcement exercise, led by NESREA’s North West Zonal Director, Dr. Mudashiru Raheem, followed investigations which established violations of the National Environmental (Air Quality Control) Regulations 2014 and the National Environmental (Food, Beverages and Tobacco Sector) Regulations 2023.
The agency noted that the outcome of the investigation led to the sealing of the facility on Monday, May 18, following the company’s failure to comply with extant environmental standards.
Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, who approved the closure, expressed concern over what he described as the reckless attitude of some facilities towards the health and well-being of citizens and the environment.
Barikor stressed that the health of citizens and environmental safety must not be sacrificed for economic gains, insisting that NESREA would continue to ensure facilities operate within the ambit of the law.
He also urged Nigerians to take ownership of their environment by acting as watchdogs and promptly reporting environmental infractions to the agency for swift intervention.
The NESREA boss reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing environmental standards across the country to safeguard public health and ensure sustainable environmental practices.
