The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has shut down the Sunseed Oil manufacturing plant in Zaria, Kaduna State, due to ongoing air pollution resulting from excessive industrial emissions.
The action was confirmed in a statement released on Tuesday by NESREA’s Assistant Director of Press, Nwamaka Ejiofor. The agency explained that the decision followed repeated complaints about persistent air pollution linked to the facility, which was found to be operating in breach of the National Environmental (Air Quality Control) Regulations.
NESREA noted that the volume and severity of the emissions posed an immediate risk to the environment and the health of residents in nearby communities, making the closure necessary.
“The severity of the emissions, which posed an immediate threat to the surrounding ecosystem and the health of nearby residents, led to the immediate closure of the facility,” the agency stated.
It added that the action aligns with NESREA’s mandate to enforce environmental compliance and protect the public from the harmful effects of unregulated industrial discharges, including air pollutants and effluents.
The Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, warned industrial operators across the country to adhere strictly to national environmental regulations and desist from practices that endanger public health and the environment.
Excessive industrial air emissions, particularly from facilities located near residential areas, have become a growing concern, contributing to respiratory diseases, environmental degradation and a decline in overall quality of life.
Under the National Environmental (Air Quality Control) Regulations, industries are required to install functional pollution control equipment, adopt cleaner production technologies and conduct regular emissions monitoring to ensure compliance with permissible limits.
NESREA cautioned that failure to comply with these regulations would attract stiff sanctions, including the sealing of facilities, financial penalties and possible prosecution.
