The National Environmental Standard And Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has reaffirmed its primary mandate of overseeing environmental protection and sustainability, emphasizing that it is not responsible for regulating industrial production processes.
The Director-General of NEPA, Dr. Amina Yusuf, made this clarification during the 2025 World Environment Day celebration in Abuja on Wednesday.
Her statement follows a recent court ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which barred the agency from joining a lawsuit filed by GreenTech Industries against the Ministry of Energy over emissions regulations. Justice Michael Okon ruled that the case could be resolved without NESREA involvement.
Speaking during the event, Yusuf addressed what she described as a growing public misconception regarding the agency’s role, stressing that NESREA is not tasked with dictating industrial policies but rather ensuring environmental standards are upheld.
“There is a recurring misunderstanding regarding our role as an environmental regulatory body. Some assume we have the mandate to dictate industrial production processes, but this is incorrect,” she said.
“To be clear, Sections 12 and 14 of the National Environmental Protection Act of 2018 explicitly outline our statutory responsibility to oversee environmental compliance and sustainability across all sectors. This was recently reaffirmed by a competent court. Our duty is to safeguard public health and the environment, ensuring that businesses and industries operate responsibly.”
She emphasized that NEPA’s role is to intervene when environmental standards are violated or when industrial practices pose a threat to sustainability.
“For example, if a manufacturing plant discharges untreated waste into a water body, we step in—not to dictate their production processes, but to ensure compliance with environmental safety regulations,” Yusuf explained.
“Similarly, when reports of hazardous waste disposal arise, our intervention is not about controlling factory operations but about protecting communities from environmental harm. Our role is to hold industries accountable when their actions threaten public health.”
Yusuf also used the platform to encourage NESREA officials to remain committed to their mission of promoting environmental sustainability.
This year’s World Environment Day theme, ‘A Sustainable Future for All,’ she noted, is particularly relevant given the increasing global environmental challenges, including climate change and pollution.
“As the world transitions toward greener and more sustainable practices, it is crucial that we ensure inclusivity. Sustainability should not be a luxury for a select few but a shared responsibility that benefits everyone,” she said.
She urged industries to adopt cleaner technologies and sustainable practices while calling on policymakers to implement fair and enforceable environmental standards.
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