NESREA seals eight factories for violating environmental safety standards in Osun

By Richard Akintade, Osogbo

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Agency (NESREA) said it has sealed eight factories and industries in Osun state for violating environmental safety standards.

The agency disclosed this to newsmen in Osogbo on Tuesday through its Director-General (DG), Professor Aliyu Jauro after inspection and enforcement tour across some communities in Osun state.

Jauro, represented by the Assistant Director of the agency in charge of Inspection and Enforcement, Mr Aremu Abdulahi Agaka, said the sealed organisations failed to comply with the agency’s environmental safety standards in keeping their environment clean; and treatment of hazardous waste .

The sealed organisations according to NESREA include : Kasmo Nigeria Limited , Sammya Nigeria Limited; G.S Agric, Timsed Beverages; Imo -Hills, Global Resources Nigeria ; and Time Quarry and Slava Bogu.

Akaga explained that the penalty for the sealed factories and industries would depend on the nature of the offences committed in line with the agency mandate and regulations.

“These defaulted entities can not unseal their businesses without the permission of the agency since they failed to complied with the provision of our mandate.

“We have served them letter of notifications on several occasion ,warning them of the untreated hazards within their localities which is dangerous.

“The level of strict compliance was not upheld and that necesecitated the need for us to take the baton to them in order to enforced such in accordance with the laws ,” he said.

According to him, the agency has 33 sector regulations to checkmate the activities of the regulated companies which has been effective and cordial.

He noted that the on going inspection and enforcement exercise is cut acrossed the 36 states of the federation to inspect and enforce strict compliance to safety standards.

Earlier, the Osun State Coordinator of the agency, Mr Shukwunweizu Muhammad Maike, also advised the public to ensure their environments are kept clean by not throwing indiscriminate waste into waterways.

According to him, the agency will not relent in its oars towards sensitising the public on the dangers associated with environmental hazards.

“We have continued to sensitise the public through with the support of the sisters agencies on safety regulations in the state to avoid any form of disasters.

“This we do every months by visiting factories , industries, hospitals, schools, companies and households to ensure strict compliance to safety standards.

“As we know , the agency cannot do it alone without the collaboration of the public, and that can be possible through the support of the entire state”.