The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has directed two rice mills and a recycling company operating within the Sharada community of Kano State to adopt and implement a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at addressing environmental pollution linked to their activities.
The affected facilities are Fortune Rice Mills, Alwabel Rice Mills, and Salassar Recycling Industry.
The Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, announced the directive during a meeting with facility operators and representatives of the Sharada community held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Barikor explained that the decision to require the industries to sign and implement the SOP was not intended to hinder business operations but to establish a framework that would ensure environmental sustainability while supporting industrial growth.
According to him, the SOP will provide the necessary guidelines for achieving compliance with environmental standards and promoting a healthier environment for residents of the host community.
Although NESREA is primarily an enforcement agency, Barikor stressed that the organisation places greater emphasis on voluntary compliance rather than punitive measures.
“The guarantee of our health is from the environment. It is a common pot that everyone eats from. Businesses should therefore be encouraged without endangering the lives of citizens,” he said.
The NESREA boss further advised the affected industries to incorporate environmental protection measures into their annual budgets and implement temporary pollution-control mechanisms within the stipulated period pending the installation of permanent control equipment.
Speaking on behalf of residents of the Sharada community, Architect Mohammed Babba commended the agency for its swift response to the petition submitted by the community over environmental concerns.
He described NESREA’s intervention as a positive step towards resolving the issues amicably and safeguarding the wellbeing of residents.
Similarly, the managers of Fortune and Alwabel Rice Mills, Mallam Shehu Dalhatu and Abdulhadi Yusuf, appealed to residents for understanding and pledged to address the environmental concerns raised by the community.
They assured stakeholders of their commitment to working closely with NESREA and seeking technical guidance to ensure full compliance with environmental regulations.
The regulatory action followed complaints by residents of Sharada over persistent dust and soot emissions from Fortune and Alwabel Rice Mills, as well as offensive odours allegedly emanating from Salassar Recycling Industry.
The complaints prompted investigations and enforcement actions by NESREA, which earlier sealed Fortune Rice Mills over alleged non-compliance with environmental standards.
Representatives of Fortune and Alwabel Rice Mills formally signed the Standard Operating Procedure at the meeting, signaling their commitment to implementing the required environmental compliance measures.
NESREA expressed optimism that the development would foster improved relations between the industries and the host community while ensuring environmental protection and sustainable industrial operations.SEO Headlines