News
NESREA Releases New Environmental Audit Guidelines
NESREA Releases New Environmental Audit Guidelines
By: Michael Mike
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has unveiled new guidelines on environmental audit in the country.
This was unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja at a workshop-cum-report release programme organized by NESREA in partnership with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a global think tank based in New Delhi, India, having in attendance over 350 participants comprising NESREA accredited consultants and staff of the agency.
According to the Director General of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Barikor, an environmental audit is a series of activities undertaken with respect to the operations of a facility or an organisation to evaluate its environmental performance, noting that it is not a one-time step but an ongoing activity that aims to identify and correct environmental issues that arise during the operation of a project and improve operating and environmental conditions in industries.
He said the review of the guidelines was necessitated by observations that existing audit reports lacked essential technical data, hindering accurate assessments of industrial performance.
Barikor while officially unveiling the Environmental Audit Guidelines and manual, said: “The Agency has observed that audit reports received from consultants come in different formats, lack important information, and in some cases they do not reflect the actual status of the process of the operating facility. Also, these reports do not adequately cover the information included in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) developed during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The new guidelines are intended to streamline the processes associated with undertaking and review of the environmental audits”.
Barikor added: “This revised guideline is an outcome of the collaborative efforts between CSE and NESREA. I would like to extend my appreciation to CSE for the support they have provided to NESREA in the development of these guidelines, needed to standardize environmental audit reports in our country. Going forward the Agency will be verifying the parameters in the Audit Report submitted by consultants and will also take a decisive action against any consultant that engages in falsification, fabrication and plagiarism”
In preparing the guidelines, officials of NESREA and CSE reviewed the existing audit guidelines and the corresponding environmental audit reports from different sectors and concluded that the existing audit reports lacked technical data and information required for depicting the performance of the industries.
Speaking at the event, Ishita Garg of CSE said: “A thoroughly performed environmental audit allows industries to analyse the ambiguities in the implementation of management plans and take corrective measures. It also helps industries improve the process efficiency by optimizing the usage of resources, increasing production and thereby resulting in monetary benefits”.
She added that on the regulatory front, “a comprehensive audit report can be helpful as it will assist in assessing the compliance status of the industry and understand its environmental performance. Comparing data of two to three years can ascertain whether the performance of an industry is improving or declining.”
Garg said: “Most of the audit reports had enough of qualitative information but lacked in basic quantitative data like the production capacity, energy and water consumption, quantity of wastewater and solid waste generated. The reports also have only one-year data which makes it difficult to compare the performance of the industry with the previous years. In the absence of sufficient data, the whole audit process becomes ineffective,” she adds.
The Director, Inspection and Enforcement, NESREA, Mr. Isa Abdussalam, said: “The new guidelines are more robust, focusing on quantitative and technical data from the industries along with the information on mitigation measures taken in various sectors over the years. Apart from being of immense use for project proponents and assistance to experts in conducting audits, these guidelines would also be useful for the regulatory bodies to review the submitted audit reports.”
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) is Nigeria’s foremost environmental protection and enforcement Agency. The agency has the mandate to enforce all environmental laws, guidelines, policies, standards regulations in Nigeria. NESREA also has the responsibility to set standards, to prohibit processes and the use of equipment or technology that harm/ undermine the environment, and to enforce compliance with provision of international agreements, protocols, conventions and treaties to which Nigeria is signatory.
NESREA Releases New Environmental Audit Guidelines
PRESIDENT TINUBU ORDERS THE WITHDRAWAL OF POLICE OFFICERS GUARDING VIPS FOR CORE POLICE DUTIES
By: Our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers currently providing security for Very Important Persons in the country.
Henceforth, police authorities will deploy them to concentrate on their core police duties.
The presidential directive was issued at the security meeting President Tinubu held on Sunday with the police, Air Force, army chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, in Abuja.
According to the Presidential directive, VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult.
In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities.
Already, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers. The federal government is also collaborating with the states to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
Sunday’s meeting was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
PRESIDENT TINUBU ORDERS THE WITHDRAWAL OF POLICE OFFICERS GUARDING VIPS FOR CORE POLICE DUTIES
VP Shettima Departs South Africa To Represent President Tinubu At AU-EU Summit In Angola
By: Our Reporter
Following the conclusion of his engagements at the 20th summit of the G20 Leaders in South Africa, Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Johannesburg for Luanda to represent President Bola Tinubu at the AU-EU Summit scheduled for Angola.
The Vice President will join other Heads of State and Government from the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) for the 7th meeting of the two bodies, scheduled to take place from November 24 to 25, 2025, in the Angolan capital, Luanda.
The AU and EU meeting will bring together young leaders, innovators and Civil Society Organisations to brainstorm on some of the shared challenges of the two unions.
It will also provide recommendations on how to address issues related to climate change, inclusivity in development, infrastructure, the digital economy, the creative industry, manufacturing, and agribusiness.
The Vice President will return to Nigeria at the end of the AU-EU summit.
VP Shettima Departs South Africa To Represent President Tinubu At AU-EU Summit In Angola
Atiku urges action to tackle out-of-school children in Nigeria
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Former Vice President of Nigeria has urged everyone to focus attention on the state of the nation’s education to secure a better future for young people in the country.
Atiku who is the founder, American University of Nigeria, AUN made the call at commemoration of the 17th Annual Founders day 2025 in Yola.
He said “Our beloved country, poised with a youth population that boasts enormous promise, faces staggering challenges that threaten to undermine our most precious asset, our children.
“Currently, millions of children remain out of school, and among those who do enrol, many find themselves disillusioned, trapped in an outdated paradigm that fails to prepare them for the demands of an increasingly complex and competitive world.”
According to him, the classroom experience, already compromised, muddied by overcrowded facilities, lack of resources, and educators who are under-supported.
He added that this dire educational reality is not just an unfortunate circumstance; it poses a profound threat not only on the lives of the youths, but also on the society
“The statistics are sobering; Nigeria holds the regrettable title of having the largest population of out-of-school children in the world.
“How is it that in a country rich in resources, cultural heritage knowledge and a myriad of talents, we find ourselves with such a dismal record?
“Every unattended classroom symbolizes a child with unfulfilled potential, a dream put on hold, and a talent that will remain dormant”, he said.
Atiku further said that If we do not act now to revitalize the educational system, “we doom an entire generation to lives devoid of opportunity, creativity, and the freedom to dream”.
In his address, Prof DeWayne Frazier, President of AUN said, over the years, the institutions has grown from its humble beginnings into a dynamic community that embodies the values of excellence, integrity, and service.
He said, they have educated leaders who are shaping industries, driving change, and transforming communities, not only in Nigeria but across the globe.
“Our mission has always been clear: to provide a world-class education rooted in critical thinking, innovation, and a commitment to sustainable development.
“Today, as we celebrate our continued journey fulfilling that mission, we take pride in the milestones we have achieved: innovative program, pioneering research and community impact”, he said.
According to him, beyond the achievements, what truly sets them apart is their community.
“AUN is not just a university; it is a family. A family bound by shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to making a difference”, he said.
Atiku urges action to tackle out-of-school children in Nigeria
PRESIDENT TINUBU ORDERS THE WITHDRAWAL OF POLICE OFFICERS GUARDING VIPS FOR CORE POLICE DUTIES
VP Shettima Departs South Africa To Represent President Tinubu At AU-EU Summit In Angola
Atiku urges action to tackle out-of-school children in Nigeria
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
News7 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
