Nigerian govt seals Ochacho Real Homes, others; gives reasons

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, has sealed off 21 facilities in Abuja for breaching multiple environmental regulations.

The enforcement operation, which took place on Wednesday, May 14, targeted a mix of housing estates and quarry sites found to be operating in violation of national environmental standards.

NESREA’s Director General, Professor Innocent Barikor, said the crackdown followed a series of unheeded written and physical notices aimed at compelling compliance. He emphasized that the move is not punitive, but a necessary action to protect the environment and ensure sustainable development practices.

Key violations identified include failure to conduct mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments before commencing operations, as well as the illegal siting of facilities on floodplains and other ecologically sensitive areas. The real estate sector was singled out for its widespread disregard of environmental regulations.

Triggered by a spike in public complaints, NESREA’s investigation uncovered that unchecked construction and quarrying were fueling erosion, flooding, and land degradation in several communities.

Among the affected facilities are prominent names such as White Avenue Real Estate, Cosgrove Estate, Mab Global Estate, Ochacho Real Homes, Mo Mouna Construction, and several quarry operators. Some quarry sites were found to have excavation depths far beyond the legal limit—some as deep as 25 metres, in violation of the three-metre maximum allowed by law.

NESREA’s Director of Environmental Quality Control, Elijah Udofia, said operators were given ample time and official notices to rectify their operations but failed to comply.