By Sodeinde Temidayo David
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has closed down 12 industries in Kano alleged for violation of environmental safety standards.
The Deputy Director of NESREA, Mr Musa Shehu-Usman, stated this while reviewing the progress of the agency’s general enforcement exercise embarked in Kano on Monday.
Mr Usman said the affected industries were sealed for various alleged offences of breaking the environmental safety standards and regulations.
He said the accused industries had failed to obey the standard rules in spite of several warnings by the agency, adding that the level of the licence exhibited by some of the industries posed threats to the environment.
“Despite series of abatement notices issued to these industries to operate in an environment-friendly manner, they failed to adhere to the rules. The trend called for sanction,” Mr Shehu-Usman said.
He also said the agency had embarked on the nationwide enforcement exercise to stem gross negligence to set standards and regulations by the industries and other facilities.
He listed the affected accused industries and disclosed that they would be charged to court until they showed timely commitment towards ensuring effective submission with the set regulations.
Mr Shehu-Usman, further expressed that Nigerians should serve as an environmental watchdog by reporting facilities that carry out activities detrimental to the environment.
The NESREA is an agency responsible for enforcing all environmental laws, guidelines, policies, standards and regulations in Nigeria.
The agency also enforces submission with provisions of international agreements, protocols, conventions and treaties on the environment in which Nigeria is a participant.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Aduragbemi Omiyale