The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has commended the Director-General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Innocent Barikor, for strengthening environmental protection efforts.
Lawal gave the commendation during a briefing by the NESREA DG in Abuja.
He said Barikor had made significant impact within two years of leadership.
The minister described NESREA as the “police of the environment.”
He also called for stronger synergy among departments and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Environment Nigeria.
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Barikor presented the agency’s operational report covering the past year.
He said NESREA issued 10,804 Environmental Import Clearances under the automated import clearance regime.
The agency also rejected 30 non-compliant applications, mainly end-of-life electronic products.
According to him, NESREA conducted 4,894 compliance monitoring visits and inspections nationwide.
The agency investigated over 200 environmental complaints during the period.
It also sealed 88 facilities found violating environmental regulations.
Barikor said NESREA reviewed 2,925 Environmental Audit Reports and 1,903 Environmental Management Plans.
The agency further issued 1,969 environmental permits to regulated facilities.
He highlighted the upgrade of the National Environmental Reference Laboratory in Port Harcourt with modern equipment.
Barikor said the laboratory upgrade was supported under the Fleming Fund initiative.
The agency also launched projects addressing plastic pollution in Nigeria.
These include the Global Environment Facility circular solutions initiative and a UNEP-supported plastics project funded by Japan.
Barikor thanked the minister for his guidance and leadership in environmental governance.
The briefing was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry and heads of its agencies.
