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Nigeria has launched revised guidelines for conducting environmental audits on December 4, 2024, marking a major step towards improving the environmental performance of industries across the country. The African nation’s National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) collaborated to develop the guidelines.
The guidelines represent a milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s environmental regulatory framework, ensuring that industries align with best practices and contribute to sustainable development. They were unveiled at a workshop in Abuja, jointly organised NESREA of Nigeria and CSE.
The event drew over 350 participants. The workshop was designed to enhance the skills of environmental consultants regarding the new guidelines. Consequently, the consultants who participate in the workshop will be qualified to perform environmental audits in the country.
Ishita Garg, programme manager for industrial pollution at CSE, outlined the importance of environmental audits in a press statement. “An environmental audit evaluates the environmental performance of a facility or organisation. It is not a one-time step but an ongoing process aimed at identifying and correcting issues to enhance environmental and operational conditions in industries,” she said.
During the official launch, NESREA’s director general, Innocent Barikor, highlighted the need for the new guidelines. “The agency observed that audit reports submitted by consultants often lack uniformity, omit essential information and fail to accurately reflect the operational status of facilities,” he said.
Additionally, these reports frequently neglect the Environmental Management Plan developed during the Environmental Impact Assessment process. The new guidelines aim to streamline environmental auditing and reporting, Barikor stated.
The director general also praised the collaboration between NESREA and CSE. “This revised guideline is the result of joint efforts with CSE, which has been instrumental in standardising environmental audit reports in Nigeria. Going forward, NESREA will verify parameters in submitted reports and take decisive action against consultants involved in falsification or plagiarism,” he said.
Officials from NESREA and CSE reviewed existing guidelines and audit reports from various sectors, identifying gaps such as insufficient technical data and limited information on industry performance.
Garg stressed the importance of robust audits. “A well-executed environmental audit helps industries identify ambiguities in management plans and take corrective measures. It improves resource efficiency, increases production, and delivers monetary benefits. Comprehensive audits also assist regulators in assessing industry compliance and performance trends over multiple years,” she said.
However, Garg noted deficiencies in current reports. “Most reports provide qualitative information but lack quantitative data on production capacity, energy and water use, and waste generation. Without sufficient data or multi-year comparisons, the audit process becomes ineffective,” she stated.
NESREA’s Director of Inspection and Enforcement, Isa Abdussalam, highlighted the advanced features of the new guidelines. “The updated guidelines focus on quantitative and technical data, along with information on mitigation measures taken by various sectors. These will benefit project proponents, assist experts in conducting audits, and aid regulatory bodies in reviewing reports,” he said.
