2 hours ago
5 ARTICLE AD
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal
The Federal Government, on Wednesday, tasked stakeholders involved in oil and gas, mining, quarrying, and petrochemicals, among others, with decommissioning and remediating industrial facilities and sites to ensure environmental sustainability.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, made this statement during the decommissioning plan and environmental remediation strategies training for staff of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency and its accredited environmental consultants.
Lawal noted that industrial activities in Nigeria must align with the highest standards of environmental protection and sustainability.
Decommissioning is a crucial aspect in the life cycle of industrial activities, as it involves the administrative and technical actions taken to remove some or all of the regulatory control from a facility so that the facility and its site can be reused and repurposed.
Remediation is the clean-up of a contaminated site to prevent, minimise, or mitigate damage to human health, ecology, or the environment.
“As Nigeria continues to grow its industrial, extractive, and energy sectors, we must not lose sight of the potential environmental and social impacts of these activities.
Ensuring that sites are properly decommissioned and that effective remediation strategies are implemented is vital to safeguarding the health of our people, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring the sustainable use of our natural resources.
“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,” Lawal stated.
The minister added that the training will enhance the technical expertise of participants in evaluating decommissioning plans and environmental remediation strategies, promote compliance with national and international environmental standards and guidelines, and provide a platform for knowledge-sharing on best practices among industry professionals, regulators, and other stakeholders.
The Director General of NESREA, Dr Innocent Barikor, emphasised that decommissioning industrial facilities is an integral part of the agency’s regulatory oversight.
Dr Barikor noted that the process goes beyond the cessation of operations; it involves managing environmental risks, ensuring the safe disposal of waste, mitigating hazards, and remediating sites to protect public health and enable sustainable post-decommissioning uses.
“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.
“By 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,” he said.
He highlighted that the effectiveness of the agency relies on strong knowledge, clear processes, and adaptability to environmental challenges.
