By Peter Omopo
Abuja, July 23, 2025 — The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) on Wednesday sealed 14 facilities across Abuja, including two popular nightclubs, for breaching various environmental regulations.
The enforcement action, which affected businesses in the quarrying, construction, and entertainment sectors, follows months of inspections and repeated warnings to the non-compliant establishments.
In a statement issued during the exercise, NESREA’s Director-General, Prof. Innocent Barikor, said the closures were necessary after the affected facilities failed to respond to multiple compliance concern letters detailing environmental breaches and timelines for corrective action.
“The 14 facilities ignored our notifications and continued to violate environmental laws, putting public health and safety at risk,” Barikor said.
List of Sealed Facilities
Among the affected premises are:
- Ibiza Nightclub and De Hive Nightclub, Area 11, for violating noise pollution regulations
- Dai Jin Jia Investment Ltd, Airport Road, for illegal quarry blasting
- Shaanxi Construction, Stepcho Nigeria Ltd, and others for failing to conduct mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
- Brmley Home, Clover Court, Richardo Estate, and several real estate firms for environmental documentation failures
The action was taken under the authority of three key environmental laws:
- National Environmental (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 35)
- National Environmental (Construction Sector) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 13)
- National Environmental (Quarrying and Blasting Operations) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 33)
Key Violations
The sealing of Dai Jin Jia Investment Ltd followed residents’ complaints in ACO Estate about frequent and dangerous quarry blasts. NESREA’s findings revealed that the company:
- Used 4,000kg of explosives per blast, exceeding the permitted 3,000kg
- Drilled blasting holes of 14 metres depth, far above the allowed 8–10 metres
- Excavated pits as deep as 17 metres, violating the 3-metre limit for commercial quarrying
“These violations led to severe ground vibrations, flying rocks, air and noise pollution,” Barikor said, adding that public safety concerns made the shutdown unavoidable.
At the nightclubs, inspections confirmed they exceeded permissible noise levels and ignored official warnings. “They were issued three separate compliance notices and still failed to act. To safeguard residents, we enforced closure,” Barikor explained.
“Not Punitive, But Corrective”
Barikor stressed that NESREA’s actions are not punitive but aimed at guiding operators toward lawful environmental practices. He warned facility managers against illegally reopening sealed sites, stating such acts would attract further sanctions.
“We want facility managers to understand the regulations affecting their industries. That’s why we offer continuous training,” he added. “Ultimately, compliance costs far less than violations.”
Environmental Impact Assessment Lapses
Speaking further, NESREA’s Director of Environmental Quality Control, Elijah Udofia, said several construction sites were sealed for failing to secure Environmental Impact Assessment certifications — a prerequisite for any development project.
“Environmental documents like the EIA are non-negotiable. These firms began work without proper clearance, which poses serious environmental and legal risks,” Udofia said.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing environmental laws, protecting Nigeria’s natural resources, and promoting sustainable development. NESREA urged all sectors—especially quarrying, construction, and entertainment—to adopt responsible environmental practices and comply fully with existing regulations.
