The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency has sealed 30 construction sites in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for violating provisions of the National Environmental (Construction Sector) Regulations, 2011.
The affected sites include Primgate Reality and XTadok Nigeria Limited in Wuye, as well as Samdus Limited in the Asokoro District, among others.
Director-General of NESREA, Innocent Barikor, said the enforcement action followed routine inspections and compliance monitoring across the FCT, which revealed widespread non-compliance with environmental requirements.
He expressed concern over what he described as poor adherence to regulatory standards, particularly in environmental documentation and responsiveness to compliance directives.
“These facilities demonstrated unwillingness to fully comply with regulatory requirements relating to environmental documentation and engagement,” he said.
Barikor explained that the sites were sealed to halt non-compliant activities, enforce adherence to environmental laws and ensure corrective measures are implemented within stipulated timelines.
He noted that while the construction sector remains critical to national development, it must be effectively regulated to mitigate environmental and public health risks.
According to him, key concerns include poor waste management practices, construction on floodplains and environmentally sensitive areas, as well as uncontrolled dust emissions.
“Where regulatory communication is clear, time-bound and evidence-based, failure to respond constitutes a serious breach of compliance obligations and poses risks to both the environment and public health,” he said.
Barikor stressed that the regulations are designed to prevent environmental harm and promote responsible construction practices, warning that compliance is mandatory.
“Environmental compliance is not optional,” he said.
He added that the agency would continue to enforce environmental laws consistently across the country, particularly where violations pose significant risks.
Barikor, who was represented during the exercise by Elijah Udofia, Director of Environmental Quality Control, called on stakeholders to cooperate with NESREA to improve environmental performance within the construction sector.
