By RismadarVoice Media
December 31, 2025
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed the Sunseed Oil processing facility in Zaria, Kaduna State, over alleged violations of Nigeria’s air quality regulations.
The enforcement action was disclosed in a press statement signed on Tuesday by NESREA’s Assistant Director of Press, Mrs. Nwamaka Ejiofor.
According to the statement, the decision followed reports of persistent, excessive air emissions from the facility, which were said to be in clear violation of the National Environmental (Air Quality Control) Regulations.
The agency explained that the regulations require industries to install functional pollution abatement equipment, adopt cleaner production practices to minimize harmful emissions.
“The severity of the emissions, which posed an immediate threat to the surrounding ecosystem, the health of nearby residents, led to the immediate closure of the facility,” the statement said.
NESREA noted that the enforcement exercise aligns with its mandate to protect public health and the environment from the harmful effects of unregulated industrial discharges, including air pollutants, effluents.
Reacting to the development, the Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, warned industrial operators across the country to ensure strict compliance with all national environmental regulations.
“Industries must avoid actions that negatively impact the health of citizens and the environment. Non-compliance will continue to attract appropriate sanctions,” he cautioned.
Excessive industrial air emissions have increasingly become a major environmental, public health concern, particularly in industrial clusters located close to residential communities.
Such emissions are linked to respiratory illnesses, environmental degradation, a decline in the quality of life of affected residents.
Under the National Environmental (Air Quality Control) Regulations, industries are required to install, maintain pollution control equipment, adopt cleaner production technologies, carry out regular emissions monitoring to ensure compliance with permissible limits.
NESREA reiterated that failure to comply with these requirements attracts penalties, including the sealing of facilities, fines and possible prosecution.
