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NESREA Releases New Environmental Audit Guidelines

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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

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PRESIDENT TINUBU MOURNS VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACK IN NGOSHE, GWOZA LGA IN BORNO STATE

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PRESIDENT TINUBU MOURNS VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACK IN NGOSHE, GWOZA LGA IN BORNO STATE
 
By: Our Reporter

President Bola Tinubu has expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those affected by the recent terrorist attack by Boko Haram on the Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
 
The President mourns the loss of innocent lives, including military personnel, and those caught in friendly fire during the aerial interdiction of fleeing terrorists by the Air Force.
 
He describes the attack by the terrorists as a heartless assault on hapless citizens, urging Nigerians in Borno and elsewhere not to succumb to fear.
 
President Tinubu commends the military for their swift response, which led to the killing of scores of terrorists and their subsequent forced retreat.
 
He charges the military and other security agencies to work urgently to rescue those kidnapped by the terrorists.
 
Additionally, he directs the armed forces to intensify their efforts to protect civilians nationwide and prevent attacks on military installations in the North East.
 
President Tinubu prays for the souls of those who lost their lives in the attacks and friendly fire and extends his sympathies to their families and the Borno State Government.

PRESIDENT TINUBU MOURNS VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACK IN NGOSHE, GWOZA LGA IN BORNO STATE

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Borno State Command Celebrates 2026 World International Civil Defence Day in Grand Style

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Borno State Command Celebrates 2026 World International Civil Defence Day in Grand Style

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The Borno State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) recently marked the 2026 World International Civil Defence Day with a weeklong series of activities, themed “Towards a safer society.”

A statement by the command’s spokesperson CSC Bulus James, stated that the celebration began with briefings and sensitization of staff on NSCDC’s critical roles in Crisis Management, Protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Counter-terrorism, and VIP Protection.

On Thursday, 26th February 2026, officers and men, led by Acting Commandant DCC Obe Ndubuisi, embarked on a road match from the State Headquarters through the Kano Motor Park community and concluded at the headquarters, where the Acting Commandant delivered speeches on behalf of Commandant CC Ahmed Bello Gaya, including messages from the Commandant General and the State Commandant.

On the 27th February, 2026, Muslim faithfuls gathered at Al-Ansar Masjid for Jumaat prayers, with ACG CBRNE Hameed Abudurin from NHQ Abuja in attendance as Special Guest of Honour.

He was also present at the Passing Out Parade (POP) of a joint special training program held at the Nigerian Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Training School, Maiduguri, in collaboration with UNMAS which offered him the opportunity to celebrate alongside the Muslim faithfuls.

Prayers were offered by the Chief Imam Borno State, and NSCDC. Worshippers expressed gratitude for NSCDC’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives, property, and critical national assets.

This was followed by the grand finale at the NSCDC Glorious Chapel which held a special Sunday service at the Command’s multipurpose hall, attended by guests from sister security agencies on 1st March, 2026

Goodwill messages were delivered, followed by a keynote address from Commandant CC Ahmed Bello Gaya, delivered by Acting Commandant Obe Ndubuisi.

.DCC Paul Ochola delivered an exhortation on “Selfless Service to Humanity: Towards a Safer Environment.” The service concluded with pleasantries and a group photograph.

Borno State Command Celebrates 2026 World International Civil Defence Day in Grand Style

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Zulum Pays Sympathy Visit to Victims of Ngoshe Attack, Assures Rescue of Abducted Residents

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Zulum Pays Sympathy Visit to Victims of Ngoshe Attack, Assures Rescue of Abducted Residents

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has commiserated with the people of Ngoshe affected by the recent Boko Haram attack, describing the incident as tragic.

Ngoshe, a community in Gwoza local government, was attacked on Tuesday evening, scores were killed, while others were abducted.

Addressing members of the community on Friday in Pulka, Governor Zulum said he personally came to sympathize with the affected people and families of those that lost their loved ones.

He assured that efforts are underway to rescue all those abducted, restore security, and provide humanitarian support to victims.

“We are here today to commiserate with the people of Ngoshe that have lost their loved ones following the unfortunate incident that occurred on Tuesday. The situation is very sad and our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy,” Zulum said.

“I want to assure you that we will do everything possible to address the unfortunate situation that has befallen this community, and for those who have been abducted, the Nigerian military will do everything within its capacity to rescue them,” Zulum assured.

Governor Zulum explained that military operations are currently ongoing in Ngoshe and the Sambisa Forest to rid the area of criminal elements.

“There are ongoing military operations within the Sambisa Game Reserve. What we witnessed yesterday was largely a result of insurgents being pushed out from their strongholds, which led them to launch coordinated attacks on nearby communities,” he explained.

He called on the Nigerian Army to intensify operations to clear insurgents from the Mandara Hills which he described as a major security threat.

“The Mandara Hills remain a major security concern. The insurgents descended from the hills to attack this town. Therefore, I call on the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government to intensify efforts to clear Mandara Hills of insurgents,” Zulum said.

The governor noted that the exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed as assessments are still ongoing, but acknowledged that several lives were lost while others were abducted.

As part of immediate humanitarian intervention, the governor said the state government had begun distributing relief materials and establishing cooking points to provide food for displaced residents.

“For now, we will distribute food items to those affected and I have directed that cooking points be established so that everyone in this community can receive meals from a central kitchen,” he said.

The governor appealed to residents to remain calm and law-abiding, noting that Borno State government will double its efforts to end this madness. “We shall not relent in our commitment to restoring lasting peace and stability in the state,” he said.

“I strongly believe that with sustained military operations and cooperation between all levels of government, we will overcome this challenge. Insha Allah, peace will return fully to our land,” the governor added.

Similarly, Governor Babagana Zulum inspected houses burned during an attack by Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday in Konduga town.

Zulum Pays Sympathy Visit to Victims of Ngoshe Attack, Assures Rescue of Abducted Residents

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