The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) says anyone who drops refuse, including a recharge card, on the ground risks a minimum of six months’ imprisonment or a N20,000 fine.

Hena Emmanuel-Dangari, NESREA state coordinator for Kaduna, disclosed this in an interview in Kaduna. He said the penalty was contained in the agency’s sanitation and waste control regulation, adding that organisations could face higher penalties for environmental violations.

He said, however, that NESREA’s priority was to encourage Nigerians to comply with environmental regulations voluntarily rather than wait for enforcement and penalties.

“What NESREA is trying to tell us is that we need to have a change in attitude. It is not just about paying penalties. NESREA prefers you to be self-compliant. If all Nigerians can change our attitude and behaviour, that will make our environment a better place for everyone,” he said.

He said NESREA had 36 gazetted regulations covering various sectors of the economy, with specific penalties prescribed for different violations. According to him, the agency has been operating in Kaduna since 2013, regulating environmental activities and promoting compliance with environmental standards.

He said the Kaduna Field Office had undertaken sensitisation, enforcement and sealing of facilities belonging to defaulters who violated environmental regulations.

Mr Emmanuel-Dangari said NESREA collaborated with faith-based organisations, markets, civil society groups, sister agencies and other stakeholders to promote proper waste disposal. He said the agency regularly visited mosques, churches and markets to sensitise residents on environmental regulations.

According to him, Thursdays have also been designated for sensitisation activities by NESREA field offices and the headquarters.

He said NESREA had collaborated with the Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) on several occasions to sensitise residents on environmental cleanliness and proper waste disposal.

The coordinator appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with the government and promote environmental awareness among children, youths and adults. He said collective compliance with environmental regulations would help create a cleaner, healthier environment across the country.

(NAN)