The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has come under national spotlight following a dramatic confrontation between its enforcement officials and soldiers allegedly attached to Fortune Rice Mills in Sharada, Kano State, during an environmental compliance operation carried out over allegations of pollution and public health violations.
The incident occurred after residents of Federal Housing Estate Sharada, Ja’en, and surrounding communities petitioned NESREA over what they described as persistent environmental pollution, health hazards, and respiratory-related illnesses allegedly caused by the activities of Fortune Rice Mills, Al-wabil Rice Mill, and Salasar Enterprises Co. Ltd.
Acting swiftly on the complaints, NESREA officials were deployed to the area to carry out inspection and enforcement activities aimed at ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations. However, tension reportedly escalated when soldiers said to be guarding Fortune Rice Mills allegedly resisted the agency’s officials while they attempted to perform their lawful duties.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that the situation created panic within the area as residents watched in disbelief while security personnel and environmental enforcement officers engaged in a heated standoff. The development reportedly forced the intervention of the Kano State Commissioner of Police, who deployed police officers to restore calm and ensure that the operation was successfully carried out.
Despite the resistance, NESREA officials, with the support of the police and cooperation from some staff of the company, eventually conducted the operation and later sealed the company over alleged violations of environmental regulations.
Residents of the affected communities also raised concerns over allegations linking the owner of Fortune Rice Mills, Alhaji Dalha, with the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal. According to the residents, there are widespread claims within the area that Alhaji Dalha, who is alleged to be closely associated with the minister, had vowed to reach out to the Minister in an attempt to pressure the Director General of NESREA into reopening the company despite the ongoing environmental concerns and enforcement actions.
The residents, however, appealed directly to the Minister of Environment, urging him to remain neutral and allow due process to prevail in the matter. They stated that they also intend to forward copies of their complaints and petitions to the minister in order to draw his attention to the environmental pollution, health hazards, and hardships allegedly caused by the activities of the companies within their communities. The residents further appealed to the minister not to interfere in the enforcement process if he truly stands in the interest of the people and environmental justice.
Residents of the affected communities also expressed shock over the alleged in deploying of military personnel to guard a privately owned rice mill accused of environmental pollution. According to them, it was disturbing that security personnel meant to protect citizens were allegedly being used to shield activities believed to be harmful to public health and the environment.
The residents further called on the Nigerian military authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the presence of soldiers at the facility and determine whether due process was followed in deploying security personnel to the company.
Community members, however, commended the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Professor Innocent Bariate Barikor, for responding promptly to their complaints and taking decisive action to address the environmental challenges affecting the area.
Teachers at Ja’en Primary School and healthcare workers at Ja’en Primary Health Care Centre also welcomed the intervention, stating that emissions and pollution from the factories had negatively affected learning activities and posed serious health risks to staff, pupils, and patients.
Residents are now calling on relevant authorities to sustain monitoring and enforcement efforts to ensure that industries operating within residential areas comply fully with environmental safety standards and regulations in order to safeguard public health and protect the environment.
