Dropping refuse on the ground, including small items such as used recharge cards, can now attract a minimum of six months imprisonment, a N20,000 fine, or both, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has warned.
The NESREA State Coordinator for Kaduna State, Mr. Hena Emmanuel-Dangari, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.
According to Emmanuel-Dangari, the penalty is stipulated under the agency’s National Environmental (Sanitation and Wastes Control) Regulations. He added that corporate organizations involved in environmental violations face significantly higher penalties.
However, the state coordinator emphasized that NESREA’s primary objective is not to penalize offenders, but to encourage voluntary compliance among citizens.
“What NESREA is trying to tell us is that we need to have a change in attitude. It is not just about paying penalties,” he said. “NESREA prefers you to be self-compliant. If all Nigerians can change our attitude and behavior, that will make our environment a better place for everyone.”
Emmanuel-Dangari revealed that the agency operates with 36 gazetted regulations covering various sectors of the economy, each prescribing specific penalties for violations.
He noted that since establishing its Kaduna office in 2013, the agency has actively regulated environmental activities, carried out public sensitisations, conducted enforcement operations, and sealed off facilities belonging to defaulters.
To promote proper waste management practices, NESREA frequently collaborates with faith-based organizations, market associations, civil society groups, and sister agencies. Emmanuel-Dangari highlighted that officials regularly visit mosques, churches, and markets to educate residents on environmental laws, with Thursdays specifically designated for sensitization activities across all field offices and headquarters.
He added that the agency has also partnered with the Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) on joint cleanliness campaigns and proper waste disposal awareness.
Appealing for public support, the coordinator urged Nigerians to work alongside the government and foster environmental awareness among children, youths, and adults to ensure a cleaner and healthier nation. (NAN)
