Environmental Violations: NESREA Shuts Down Oyo State Plant

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency has shut down a Bond Chemicals factory in Oyo State over environmental violations tied to the discharge of untreated industrial waste.

The action was confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday by the agency’s Assistant Director of Press, Nwamaka Ejiofor, following verified complaints from residents about the release of wastewater with a strong, offensive odour from the facility.

According to NESREA, a compliance inspection conducted on February 18 revealed that the factory did not have a functional effluent treatment plant—an essential system for properly managing industrial waste. The agency said the company had been discharging untreated wastewater directly into the environment, contrary to national environmental regulations.

The facility had previously been notified of the violations and instructed to halt the pollution, install and operate an appropriate treatment system, and secure the required regulatory permits. However, a subsequent inspection showed that these directives were not complied with.

As a result, NESREA exercised its regulatory powers to seal the factory in order to prevent further environmental damage and protect public health.

Reacting to the development, the Director-General of NESREA, Innocent Barikor, stressed that industries must strictly adhere to environmental standards, including the installation and proper operation of pollution control equipment.

He added that the agency would intensify its monitoring and enforcement activities nationwide to ensure compliance.

The incident underscores NESREA’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on environmental violations across the country. In recent months, the agency has taken similar actions against several facilities for offences such as failing to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments and operating without effective waste management systems.

NESREA reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health and the environment by ensuring that all industrial operators comply with established environmental regulations.