The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in Nigeria says it will continue to monitor quarrying and construction activities closely and take appropriate action against any entity that disregards environmental regulations.
The Director General of NESREA, Professor Innocent Barikor, stated this at a press briefing in Abuja after the agency conducted an inspection tour and sealed 14 facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) due to environmental violations.
He said NESREA remains committed to its mission of enforcing environmental regulations and protecting the country’s natural resources.
“Out of the fourteen (14) facilities sealed, one (1) of the facilities engages in quarrying operations, Dai Jin Jia Investment Limited, located at Aco, Airport Road, Abuja.
Following the protest by residents of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Estate, popularly known as ACO Estate, on Saturday, 19th July 2025, against the incessant and indiscriminate blasting operations by Dai Jin Jia Investment Limited, which was publicized in the media and the most recent incident on Thursday, 17th July 2025, a team of officers from the agency was dispatched to the facility for investigation.”
“The Charge Loading Density (CLD) of the explosives, 4 metric tonnes (4,000 kg), used by the facility exceeded the 3 metric tonnes (3,000 kg) per blast prescribed in the National Environmental Regulations by 1 metric tonne (1,000 kg).”
“The depth of the blasting hole—14 metres—also exceeded the prescribed commercial blasting depth of 8–10 metres under the National Environmental Regulations,” he stated.
He explained that the facility was sealed to protect both lives and the environment.
The NESREA DG urged all stakeholders in the quarrying and construction industries to prioritize compliance and adopt sustainable practices.
“The agency will continue to monitor quarrying and construction activities closely and take appropriate action against any entity that disregards environmental regulations,” he said.
He also noted that the agency had responded to numerous complaints from residents regarding excessive noise levels from Ibiza Nite Club, Plot 11A, Port Harcourt Crescent, off Gimbiya Street, Area 11, and De Hive Night Club, Plot 11B, Port Harcourt Crescent, off Gimbiya Street, Area 11, as well as other facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The agency conducted targeted inspections of the facilities. Our assessments focused on compliance with noise regulations as outlined in the National Environmental (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations.
“Following these inspections, the agency issued notices of violation and three compliance concern letters to the facilities for exceeding permissible noise levels.
“These notices detailed the specific infractions and mandated immediate corrective actions to mitigate noise pollution.”
“The facilities refused to abide by the National Environmental Regulations in their operations, as stated in the letters. In order to protect the residents, the facilities were sealed to enforce compliance,” he said.
Professor Barikor also reiterated the agency’s commitment to protecting the rights of citizens to live in a peaceful and healthy environment.
“We encourage all facilities to adhere to the established standards and take proactive measures to minimize their environmental impact. Our commitment to environmental protection is unwavering,” he said.
Responding to questions from journalists about facilities that break NESREA’s seals, he said:
“For those facilities that are beginning to take the responsibility of unsealing themselves, it’s important to warn that we are not going to take it lightly with them.”
The NESREA DG explained that the agency’s inspection team had conducted a comprehensive inspection of numerous facilities, focusing on compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
“These inspections revealed several violations related to lack of environmental documents, non-adherence to regulations guiding their operations, etc., which can threaten or endanger both lives and properties,” he added.
In his remarks, the Director of Environmental Quality Control at NESREA, Mr. Elijah Udofia, said some of the ongoing construction work in the FCT was being carried out without due process, particularly in terms of required environmental documentation.
“We carry out enforcement across three specific sectors.
“The environmental document we refer to is the Environmental Impact Statement, which is a certification from the Environmental Impact Assessment.
“They are supposed to conduct this assessment prior to beginning any construction work. We wrote to them, but they couldn’t provide us with the required information.
“They didn’t conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment. That is why they have been sealed for failing to comply with this requirement,” he said.
According to him, a few weeks ago, there was a public outcry from a community that experienced vibrations from blasting activities at a quarry site.
“We responded immediately. We carried out all necessary assessments and also invited the operators. Our findings revealed that they failed to comply with the regulations guiding their operations,” he said.
He further stated that noise pollution from entertainment facilities was the third major issue addressed in the enforcement operations.
“We received numerous public complaints from affected areas. We wrote to the facilities, instructing them to reduce the noise pollution, but they failed to comply. That is what necessitated their sealing as well,” he said.
The inspection tour is in line with the agency’s ongoing commitment to protect Nigeria’s environment and ensure compliance with environmental standards.