The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled new environmental audit guidelines aimed at regulating the operations of facilities across the country.
The announcement was made by Dr. Innocent Barikor, Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), at a workshop in Abuja on Wednesday.
The workshop, organized in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a global organization based in New Delhi, India, highlighted the guidelines’ purpose of enhancing environmental sustainability, compliance, and excellence in conducting audits across facilities in Nigeria.
Dr. Barikor explained that the guidelines aim to identify and address environmental challenges arising during project operations, improve industrial practices, and minimize environmental impacts.
He noted that audit reports from consultants have often been inconsistent, lacking crucial information, and sometimes failing to reflect the actual status of the operating facilities.
“These reports do not adequately cover the details included in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) developed during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA),” he said, adding that the new guidelines would streamline the environmental audit process.
Emphasizing the importance of high-quality audit reporting, Dr. Barikor stressed that such reports serve as foundational tools for environmental compliance and enforcement.
“Our reports guide policy, inform industry standards, and ultimately shape environmental performance across sectors. Aligning our guidelines with global best practices will ensure that Nigeria’s environmental audits are credible, transparent, and impactful on a global scale,” he said.
Dr. Barikor further announced that NESREA would begin verifying the parameters in audit reports submitted by consultants and take decisive actions against any consultant involved in falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism.
Ms. Ishita Garg from CSE also highlighted the value of a thorough environmental audit, noting that it allows industries to identify gaps in implementing management plans and take corrective actions.
She explained that audits help industries optimize resource usage, improve efficiency, and increase production, leading to monetary benefits.
“A comprehensive audit report can assist in assessing compliance status and understanding environmental performance,” she added.
Mr. Isa Abdussalam, Director of Inspection and Enforcement at NESREA, emphasized that the new guidelines are more comprehensive, requiring quantitative and technical data from industries.
He added that the guidelines would also aid regulatory bodies in reviewing submitted audit reports.
