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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
Bio Mourns Passing of Buhari
By: Michael Mike
Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of
Heads of State and Government and President of Sierra Leone, President Julius Maada Bio has mourned the passing of former Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari.
A statement by Sierra Leone State House, Freetown read: “It is with profound grief that His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio mourns the passing of his dear friend and former President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, who departed this life on Sunday, 13th July 2025.
“In his capacity as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Julius Maada Bio extends heartfelt condolences to the
Government and People of Nigeria, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and most especially to the bereaved family of the late President Buhari.
“The late President Buhari was a formidable statesman whose dedication to the service of his nation will remain a testament to their legacy.
“As Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, President Bio recognizes with admiration the leadership demonstrated by the late President Buhari during his tenure as Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority
of Heads of State and Government. His courageous commitment to the advancement of regional peace
stability, and economic integration was a hallmark of his stewardship.
“During this time of great sorrow, Sierra Leone stands in solidarity with the people of Nigeria. We join all West Africans and the global community in mourning the loss of a true patriot.”
Bio Mourns Passing of Buhari
Five killed, three injured as bandits attack church meeting in Kajuru community in Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
At least five persons have been confirmed dead and three others injured following a deadly attack by armed bandits on members of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) during a meeting at Kampani Village in Maro, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Sources from the Kaduna State Police Command told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred on Friday, July 11, at about 3:30 p.m., when a group of armed bandits stormed the church premises during a gathering of worshippers.
The sources said a Good Samaritan alerted security agencies about the attack at approximately 9:20 p.m., prompting a swift response.
A combined team of police operatives and sister security agencies was immediately deployed to the village, where it was confirmed that five worshippers had been shot and fatally wounded.
The victims were identified as: Victor Haruna, Dogara Jatau, Luka Yari, Jesse Dalami and Bawu John. They were rushed to the hospital, where doctors certified them dead.
Three others Samuel Aliyu, Philip Dominic, and Jacob Hussaini, sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a nearby medical facility.
Efforts are ongoing in collaboration with other security agencies to track and apprehend the perpetrators.
Five killed, three injured as bandits attack church meeting in Kajuru community in Kaduna
Egyptian Ambassador Calls for Scaling Up of Trade, Investment Relations with Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
The Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mohamed Fouad has said scaling up the trade and investment relations remains the priority of both governments of Egypt and Nigeria.
Speaking at the Commemoration of the 73rd Anniversary of the National Day of the Arab Republic of Egypt at the weekend in Abuja, the envoy said historical ties that link Egypt to Nigeria date back centuries ago with Cairo’s leading Al-Azhar AlShareef University established few centuries ago “The Borno Pavillion” dedicated to students arriving from Northern Nigeria.
He noted that generations of Nigerians sought knowledge at the esteemed University of Al Azhar, and as of today, hundreds of Nigerian students are enrolled in Egyptian universities, fostering a new generation of leaders who will contribute to the Nigerian society, and will undoubtedly strengthen the ties between our two nations.
He said: “We are proud of the growing people-to-people exchange between Egypt and Nigeria, that has significantly intensified over the last few years through tourism, business, and education, constituting a solid foundation for our bilateral relations.”
The envoy said: “Scaling up our trade and investment relations is a priority for our two governments. In that regard, we are proud of the numerous Egyptian companies that have been active in Nigeria for years, in areas such as construction, energy, and communications, contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth and creating employment opportunities.”
He noted that: “From security, countering-terrorism, to energy, communications, trade, and infrastructure, to agriculture, health care and education, our two countries are proceeding with determination on the path to forge a modern and forward-looking partnership anchored in our common values and shared objectives. “
The envoy added that: “Our respective compatriots in Egypt and in Nigeria play a crucial role in advancing the various facets of our partnership. They will continue to serve as the engine advancing our common objectives.”
He said: “Egypt, today, is a nation on the move. Under the “New Republic” Vision of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, we are embarking on an ambitious journey of comprehensive development and modernization across all sectors.
“We are building new cities, investing in sustainable energy, expanding our industrial base, and prioritizing education and healthcare, all with the aim of creating a prosperous and inclusive future for all Egyptians. Our economy is diversifying, our infrastructure is rapidly evolving, and our commitment to regional stability and global cooperation remains steadfast.”
He added that: Today at a time of profound uncertainty, Egypt and Nigeria are cognizant of the imperative of redefining and further developing their bilateral relations to meet emerging common challenges and priorities.
“Against this backdrop, the third round of our bilateral political consultations convened for the first time at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Cairo last January. Our two Ministers of Foreign Affairs H.E Dr. Badr Abd-Elatty, and H.E Youssef Tuggar discussed numerous regional and bilateral issues of mutual interest. The two Ministers also signed a joint statement elevating our bilateral relations to the level of comprehensive partnership.”
End
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