The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a warning to battery producers to abide by the battery control regulations or risk a fine of two million Naira in addition to a six-month jail term.
This was disclosed by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in Abuja on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at the launching of the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations for Civil Society and the Press.
The Director-General of NESREA, Innocent Barikor, said the use of batteries is now an alternative energy source due to the unavailability of frequent power supply and the rising cost of fossil fuel.
According to the Director General, "... there is an urgent need to regulate the hodgepodge of batteries that will be happening in the battery industry."
He also explained that the battery control regulations deal with the production, storage, transportation process and penalties that can be given to those who derail from the regulations in the battery industry, stating that the battery disposal method in Nigeria is not in line with global best practices, hence the need for the regulations to be put in place.
He further said,"There are penalties and one of such is the fact that for corporate organisations, you have as high as, not less than two million Naira, but it can be more than that for violation of the environment as it relates to the battery and improper disposal of battery. And for individuals, you have as much as N200,000, not below N200,000, and even a jail term can follow.
“These are just the little and the most highlights we can give on this. When we put this on our website, I know that Nigerians will have the responsibility to read through it. The regulation also gives Nigerians the specific responsibility as citizens to say what they see, particularly when it comes to the dumping of batteries in public spaces, water, air, and land.”
Also speaking, the Director of Legal Services at NESREA, Mr George Tyendwa, represented by the Assistant Director, Legal Department Desk Officer, stated that the agency has observed non-compliance with the battery control regulations over time and identified threat to human health, and with this, the culpable facility will be sealed even without a court order.
“Where there is non-compliance, sealing will be enforced with a court order. But where these contraventions are of imminent danger to the environment and human health, the agency goes straight without a court order to seal while we secure a court order.
“So we do not wait to secure a court order before sealing a facility where imminent danger is on,” he said.
“Then for the individuals, for instance, in the value chain, we have the collectors, pickers, distributors, and so on. So any individual who offends, it (the fine) is not less than N200,000 upon conviction. The N200,000 is the minimum. So it will go as much as five million Naira for an individual, depending on the severity of the offense.”
Speaking further, he said, “According to the severity of the offense, it could go as high as N10 million. It could go as high as N20 million and even N50 million. So it must not be less than two million Naira, because these offences, as we know and as we have seen, are quite severe. That’s for corporate companies".
He said the effectiveness of the regulations put in place relies solely on the coordinated and multi-dimensional approach that includes robust enforcement, widespread public education, substantial investment in infrastructure, and active stakeholder collaboration.
He however advised that all relevant stakeholders should critically study, understand and comply with the provisions of the regulations.
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