By Rosemary Ogbonna
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed 30 construction sites across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for violating environmental regulations guiding operations in the construction sector.
The enforcement exercise, carried out on Tuesday, targeted firms accused of breaching provisions of the National Environmental (Construction Sector) Regulations, 2011, particularly on environmental documentation and compliance obligations.
Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, said the construction sector remains critical to national development but warned that poor environmental practices pose serious threats to public health and the environment.
Represented by Director of Environmental Quality Control, Elijah Udofia, Barikor listed common infractions to include improper waste management, construction on floodplains and eco-sensitive areas, uncontrolled dust emissions, unsafe handling of materials and chemicals, poor site drainage, erosion, sedimentation, and negative impacts on neighbouring communities.
He expressed concern over what he described as poor attitude to compliance, saying many of the affected facilities failed to respond adequately to regulatory engagements despite clear notices and timelines.
“These facilities demonstrated unwillingness to fully comply with regulatory requirements relating to environmental documentation and responsiveness to compliance engagements. Where regulatory communication is clear, time-bound, and evidence-based, failure to respond constitutes a serious breach of compliance obligations and poses risks to both the environment and public health,” Barikor said.
The NESREA boss stressed that environmental compliance was not optional, noting that the regulations were designed to prevent harm before it occurs.
“The regulations are designed to prevent harm before it occurs and to ensure that construction activities are managed responsibly from the start. Environmental compliance is not a choice,” he warned.
Barikor assured residents that the agency would continue to enforce environmental laws fairly and consistently nationwide, while urging stakeholders to cooperate with regulators to improve environmental performance.
Some of the sealed facilities include Primgate Reality, XTadok Nigeria Limited, Real Bees Global Ltd, Urban Cribs, Salis Estate, Peak and Hills Engineering & Development Ltd, Buildoptions Limited, Rockseed International Company Nigeria Ltd, Zavati Group, Urban Shelter UTC, and Klimart Limited.
The sites are spread across Wuye, Jabi, Katampe, Jahi, Asokoro and Airport Road districts of Abuja.