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
UPDATE: Peace accord reached between Katsina communities and bandit leaders
By: Zagazola Makama
A peace accord has been reached between representatives of communities from Bakori, Kafur, Malumfashi, Kankara, and Funtua Local Government Areas of Katsina State and bandit elements operating within the Funtua zone.
The meeting, which was convened on Oct. 12, 2025, at Kakumi Village in Bakori LGA under the Operation Safe Corridor initiative, was aimed at restoring sustainable peace and security across the affected communities.
According to sources, the dialogue brought together key stakeholders, including traditional rulers, elected local government chairmen, and representatives of the bandit groups.
Community representatives included Alhaji Abdurrahman Kandarawa (Bakori), Abubakar Musa Barde (Kafur), Alhaji Bature Dan Kanjiba (Malumfashi), Alhaji Audu Goya (Funtua), and Alhaji Kasimu Dantsoho (Kankara). Traditional leaders in attendance were Alhaji Ado Bello (District Head of Bakori), Tsiga Jarman Katsina, Galadiman Katsina Alhaji Abdullahi Mahuta (Malumfashi), Danejen Katsina Alhaji Abdulkadir (Kafur), and Sarkin Maskan Katsina (Funtua).
Representing the bandit elements were Ado Aleru of Yankuzo in Tsafe LGA, Zamfara State; Isiya Kwashen Garwa of Guga Ward, Bakori LGA; Babaro of Gidan Gamji, Kankara LGA; and Alhaji Iliya Zango Dan Sabau, also from Kankara LGA.
The meeting, held under close monitoring, lasted from 2:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and ended peacefully with all parties pledging to uphold the terms of the agreement.
Resolutions reached included the restoration of law and order, the cessation of hostilities, and the renewal of mutual respect for peaceful coexistence between the communities and the repentant bandit groups.
UPDATE: Peace accord reached between Katsina communities and bandit leaders
PRNigeria Staff Member Kidnapped En Route to Young Communication Fellowship
By: Zagazola Makama
The media community has been rocked by the news that Salis Manaja, a multimedia staff member with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), the publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, has been kidnapped by gunmen. Manaja was abducted while traveling from Abakaliki to Ilorin to participate in the organization’s annual Young Communication Fellowship programme.
Manaja was discovered missing on Saturday after other IMPR staff members, led by Dahiru Lawal, arrived in Ilorin ahead of the annual event. Attempts by his colleagues to reach the multimedia specialist failed when his phone became unreachable.
A source close to the family confirmed that the abductors have since made contact, demanding a ransom for his release. Details regarding the exact location where the kidnapping took place remain unconfirmed. Efforts to reach the publisher of PRNigeria for comment were unsuccessful as his mobile phone was either switched off or receiving foreign dialing tones.
The PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship is an annual capacity-building program held at the organization’s training centers in Kano, Abuja, and Ilorin, aimed at nurturing young journalists and communicators.
The tragic incident casts a shadow over the start of the program, underscoring the severe security risks faced by journalists and travelers across Nigeria.
PRNigeria Staff Member Kidnapped En Route to Young Communication Fellowship
News
Benue: You’re Doing Well, South West Political Leaders Tell Governor Alia…Consoles Yelwata Community Over Killings
Benue: You’re Doing Well, South West Political Leaders Tell Governor Alia
…Consoles Yelwata Community Over Killings
By: Michael Mike
Political Leaders from the Southwest have lauded Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state as a performing governor during a visit to the state capital, Makurdi.
Top leaders under the auspices of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), during a condolence visit to the people of Yelwata community in Guma local government area of Benue state where over 200 persons were killed by suspected herdsmen with many others injured and displaced recently, were impressed by how the state government handled both the medical and the political outcome of the attack.
The delegation led by it chairman, Prince Dr Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi also visited the survivors of the attack undergoing treatment at the Reverend Father Moses Orshio Adasu University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.
Recalled that President Bola Tinubu had visited Benue on the heels of the deadly attack in Yelwata community, Guma Local Government Area and directed security agencies to urgently gather actionable intelligence and flush out the armed herdsmen responsible for the dastardly act.
Addressing leaders and members of the Yelwata community, Olusi consoled with them, assuring that the GAC shared in their pains and that the highest body of the APC in Lagos would support every effort to restore peace in the area.
He said the visit which was in solidarity with the APC-led administration of the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr Dr Hyacinth Alia, is intended to comfort the families of the deceased, victims and survivors so as to let them know that they were not alone in their challenge time but they have empathy of others.
“Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), a top organ of the Lagos APC is here in solidarity with the APC administration of your hardworking Governor, His Excellency, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia to console with you and assure you that we feel your pains and we will also support all efforts to restore security and reinkindle hope.
“We also appeal to you to keep faith with the administration of the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who here in Benue to condole with you and gave directives to the security agencies to fish out the culprits and restore security so that you can go about your normal businesses.
“The mother of the nation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu was here too to bring succour to you. Your Governor, His Excellency, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia is also doing his best in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of the APC-led government to make you more secured and comfortable,”Olusi said.
At the Adasu University Teaching Hospital, the delegation sympathised with the victims undergoing treatment and recuperating, and wished them quick recovery.
The delegation also took time to visit the High-level roundabout underpass in Makurdi and other infrastructural development projects embarked upon by Alia administration.
The Olusi-led GAC delegation, lauded Governor Alia’s giant strides in Benue state, almost surpassing previous administrations in just two years and urged people of the state to continue to support him to do more.
Benue: You’re Doing Well, South West Political Leaders Tell Governor Alia
…Consoles Yelwata Community Over Killings
UPDATE: Peace accord reached between Katsina communities and bandit leaders
PRNigeria Staff Member Kidnapped En Route to Young Communication Fellowship
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