FG to sanction industries yet to join EPR programme

Minister of State of Environment, Honourable Usman Jibril stated this in Abuja during the opening of the 12^th National Stakeholders’ Forum of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) with the theme: “Circular Economy and Environmental Governance.”

According to him, it is required by law that all stakeholders must be part of the programme, and early next year, NESREA will start sanctioning industries that have not joined the EPR programme.

He then urged the stakeholders in the two sectors to immediately key into the programme, saying there must be a level playing field for all industries, and individual or corporate body is above the law of the land.

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While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the amended NESREA Act, the minister said the former’s action was a clear demonstration of government’s effort to ensure the protection of the environment and the achievement of sustainable development.

Honourable Jibril also commended the corporate bodies/industries in the sectors who have shown tremendous leadership and commitment to drive the process in their respective sectors.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NESREA, Dr Lawrence Anukam said the objective of the forum was to deepen the knowledge and understanding of the circular economy and environmental governance in the country and how best to mainstream the concepts into national environmental.

This, according to him, will create awareness and foster an understanding of the concepts and elements of circular economy and environmental governance and their linkages within the context of environmental protection and sustainable development.

“It will provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge and information amongst key sector players, whose activities and operations have a strong bearing on the generation of major waste stream such as electronic waste, plastic waste and waste batteries among others,” he added.

The DG was optimistic that the forum would come up with actionable recommendations that would inform the deepening of the circular economy and the strengthening of environmental governance in the country.