The Federal government has begun a renewed measure at ensuring a safer environment with the priority of decommissioning of old sites and industrial facilities nationwide.
The Federal government said a fully activated decommissioning activities around used and abandoned sites across the country would provide more land availability for use for other beneficial purposes to the population.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said that Decommissioning of Facilities as at when due remained a veritable environmental resource management, that must be promoted for a better environment.
He said the challenge has at the moment, presented a new deal for the sector as opportunities for capacity building environmentalists to promote a sustainable environment, safe for plants and animals as well as humans who interact with the environment and has to be engaged for the staffers, consultants and contractors on a safer environment.
This opportunities also translates to reclaiming of lands that appear unusable for better other developmental uses.
Addressing the over 50 participants to the decommissioning Plan and Environmental Remediation Strategy training in Abuja, the minister said the “gathering underscores our collective responsibility to ensure that environmental sustainability remains at the forefront of our national development agenda.”
He said the technical meeting “also represents an important step toward ensuring that industrial activities in Nigeria align with the highest standards of environmental protection and sustainability.
Lawal said that cleaning up old sites before any exit by companies who carry out environmental impacting activities such as ensuring decommissioning and remediation are critical aspects of sustainable resource management.
He noted that Nigeria, like many nations, faces challenges in the areas of regulatory compliance, capacity building and the availability of advanced technologies for decommissioning and remediation.
However, these challenges also present opportunities. By investing in training and fostering collaborations among stakeholders, we can build a robust framework that ensures best practices are adopted and enforced.
“Over the years we have witnessed poorly managed decommissioning and remediation efforts leading to long-term environmental damage, public health crises and substantial economic costs. This workshop is not just timely, but crucial to environmental sustainability.
“The Federal Ministry of Environment recognizes the invaluable contributions of agencies like the National Environmental Standard and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in enforcing environmental regulations, promoting best practices and fostering a culture of accountability among industries operating within our borders as well as the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP) for remediation and cleanup of the Niger Delta region.” Lawal stated
He said the Federal government is committed to initiatives towards attaining a clean and sustainable environment in Nigeria as well as all stakeholders involved in our fight against environmental pollution and degradation.
On his part, the Director General of the Nigerian Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. Innocent Barikor, said the process of land reclamation for other uses are important for safety thereafter.
He said the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) would be focused on the safety of used sites before the exit of any facilities ensure it complies with environmentally safety regulation for the good of all
According to him “decommissioning industrial facilities is an integral part of our regulatory oversight. This process goes beyond the cessation of operations; it involves managing environmental risks, ensuring safe disposal of waste, mitigating hazards, and remediating sites to protect public health and enable sustainable post-decommissioning uses.”
He charged the staff of NESREA to get fully acquainted with the expert views in the training session to be able to engage the operators in the fields.
His words: This workshop is designed to provide you, as NESREA staff, with the tools to effectively evaluate and oversee these processes, ensuring they align with both national regulations and international best practices.
“Today’s training will focus on enhancing your understanding of critical components of decommissioning plans, from waste management and hazard containment to environmental remediation and compliance with regulatory standards.
“The workshop will also explore relevant national regulations and introduce international frameworks that guide decommissioning practices globally.”
He hoped the end of this workshop, you will be better equipped to review, approve, and enforce decommissioning plans that not only meet legal requirements but also reflect NESREA’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
