NESREA trains staff to enforce 28 more environmental standards
National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has held a one-day training for its senior staff on how to enforce global environmental standards in the country.
Speaking in Calabar at the 2nd Essential Enforcement Course for NESREA Staff held at the Cross River State field office on Marian Road, the Director General, Dr. (MRS) Ngeri Benebo, said that the agency has developed 28 National Environmental Regulations that are being enforced in natural environment of wetlands, watershed, coastal area protection, and desertification and drought mitigation across the country.
Represented by Mrs. Miranda Annacheree, the Director, Inspections and Enforcement Department, Benebo said: “It is heart-warming that just two weeks ago, the Lagos State government organised a roundtable to adopt the federal regulations evolved by NESREA as law for the state.
“Essentials of Enforcement Course” is to improve participants’ knowledge of environmental protection and practical enforcement issues to enable them understand the standardised procedure for enforcement and also to appreciate the application of laws, regulations, guidelines aimed at discouraging violations.
“This training has been made mandatory for all Senior Officers Cadres of the agency because we are all experts. That is why we must educate one another, look at how our environment runs, and be environment vanguard, everybody has a stake in ensuring that our environment is clean and healthy for all of us.”
The Director General said the training will equip the staff to understand global concerns and responsibility for environmental challenges expressed in various Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAS) and improve their skills for routine monitoring and inspection.
Benebo announced that her agency would soon commence enforcement of emission testing of motor vehicles before the registration of vehicles by Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
She emphasised that the agency would begin to clamp down on such vehicles that do not meet specified environmental standards.
Cross River State Coordinator Raph Nnam commended the Director General of NESREA for the training, saying that the staff will put the training into use and enhance their performance at the field.