N’ Assembly pledges support for NESREA Act

THE National Assembly has pledged to support Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in improving environmental governance and ensuring best practices.

The lawmakers are working towards amending 2007 National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA Act to meet emergence pollution trends in the country.

It would be recalled that the House of Representative has passed the amendment bill some months ago, now in anticipation of Senate to give its legislative inputs before it become a law.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Oluremi Tinubu stated at a Retreat organised by the agency in Abuja, said when it is worked upon, would help to make the new law enforceable.

She decried the precarious situation where development is heightened by population growth, economic activities, which resulted to land and air pollution in many parts of country, especially, Niger Delta region.

“We want to take concrete steps to improve environmental governance in Nigeria. If we must develop economically as a nation, we must also ensure that our development is in harmony with nature,” she declared.

Earlier, Director-general of NESREA, Dr Lawrence Anukam explained, this year’s retreat is intended to afford management staff the opportunity to deliberate, dialogue, and review trends in the sector.

He said they want to develop and produce a strategic impact plan for the next 5 years, and look at the Agency’s past performances, in order to chart a new course of programmes and projects.

“NESREA has developed 34 National Environmental Regulations and now has presence in 24 States of the Federation. It is hoped that 3 more will come on board as soon as possible”, he stated.

On his part, Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, reiterated the support of his Committee to the agency. He argued that the task ahead was enormous and hoped that the outcome will be implemented to achieve its mandate.