The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Environment and other environmental agencies to reinforce the enforcement of all environment-related laws and regulations in Nigeria.
The House also called for the strengthening of the effectiveness of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion on Waste Pollution and the Management of its Impacts on Health and Environment, moved by Mr. Julius Pondi.
Leading the debate on the motion, Mr. Pondi said that there is need to implore States and Local Governments to closely collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that Oil Companies and Manufacturing Industries, as well as Small and Medium-Scale Businesses, adopt cleaner and safer waste disposal methods to contain the outbreaks of infections and spread of communicable diseases.
” The House Notes the difficulties faced by citizens in controlling and managing waste disposals and utilizing production effluent in the manufacturing industries, as well as the oil and gas sectors;
” Observes the recurring negative impacts that ineffective waste disposal practices have had on the health of citizens in communities and locations where oil and gas activities are conducted“. Mr. Pondi said .
Also in spite of the numerous laws and regulations on waste management across the country, there are still numerous gaps and lapses in the control and management of industrial and domestic waste across the country.
The House mandated the House Committee on Environment to conduct a wholesome survey on the extent of environmental pollution across and around major industries and their level of compliance with laws and regulations on pollution and report within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
Oyenike Oyeniyi
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