POLICY INSTRUMENTS

To guide the Ministry in its efforts to address key environmental issues

in Nigeria, a number of policy instruments/laws and regulations have
been put in place.
1. The National Policy on Environment
The purpose of the National Policy on the Environment is to define a
framework for environmental governance in Nigeria.
In addition to the National Policy on Environment, there are other
policy documents on some thematic areas of the Ministrys
mandate. These include:
The national forest policy (2006);
The national drought and desertification policy;
Environmental Enforcement Policy;
National Environmental Sanitation Policy,
National Policy Guidelines on Sanitary Inspection of Premises;
National Policy Guidelines on Solid Waste Management;
National Policy Guidelines on School Sanitation;
National Policy Guidelines on Pest and Vector Control;
National Policy Guidelines on Market and Sewage
Management;
National Policy Guidelines on Food Sanitation;

2. THE NATIONAL FOREST POLICY

The overall objective of the national forest policy is to achieve
sustainable forest management that would ensure sustainable
increases in the economic, social and environmental benefits from
forests and trees for the present and future generations including
the poor and the vulnerable groups.
NATIONAL DROUGHT AND DESERTIFICATION POLICY

The main goal of the policy is to reduce (or where possible prevent)
the adverse effects of drought and desertification, and halt or even
reverse the processes of desertification, to the end that peoples
lives are immensely improved and poverty reduced.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
Many laws and regulatory measures have been put in place to
promote sustainable environmental management in many sectors of
the economy. Some of the critical acts include:
National Environmental (Wetlands, River Banks and Lake
Shores) Regulations, S. I. No. 26 of 2009:
This Regulation provides for the conservation & wise use of
wetlands & their resources in Nigeria and ensure sustainable use of
wetlands for ecological and tourism purposes and to protect wetland
habitats for species of fauna and flora.
National Environmental (Watershed, Mountainous, Hilly and
Catchments Areas) Regulations, S. I. No. 27 of 2009:
This Regulation seeks to protect water catchment areas and ensure
the minimization of significant risks and damage to ecological and
landscape aspects.
National

Environmental

(Sanitation

and

Wastes

Control)

Regulations, S. I. No. 28 of 2009:

The purpose of this Regulation is to provide the legal framework for
the adoption of sustainable and environment friendly practices in
environmental sanitation and waste management to minimize
pollution.
National Environmental (Permitting and Licensing System)
Regulations, S. I. No. 29 of 2009:

The provisions of this Regulation enable consistent application of

environmental laws, regulations and standards in all sectors of the
economy and geographical region.
National Environmental (Access to Genetic Resources and
Benefit Sharing) Regulations, S. I. No. 30 of 2009:
The overall purpose of this Regulation is to regulate the access to
and use of genetic resources and ensure sharing of the benefits
from their utilization.
National Environmental (Mining and Processing of Coal, Ores
and Industrial Minerals) Regulations, S. I. No. 31 of 2009:
This Regulation seeks to minimize pollution from mining and
processing of coal, ores and industrial minerals and encourage the
application of up-to-date efficient cleaner production technologies.
National Environmental (Ozone Layer Protection) Regulations,
S. I. No. 32 of 2009:
The provisions of this Regulation seek to prohibit the importation,
manufacture, sale and the use of ozone-depleting substances.
National Environmental (Food, Beverages and Tobacco Sector)
Regulations, S. I. No. 33 of 2009:
The purpose of this Regulation is to prevent and curtail pollution
from all operations and ancillary activities of food, beverages and
tobacco sector to the Nigerian environment.
National Environmental (Textile, Wearing Apparel, Leather and
Footwear Industry) Regulations, S. I. No. 34 of 2009:

The main thrust of this Regulation is to ensure that all operations

and ancillary activities from this sector do not have significant
negative impact on the Nigerian environment.
National

Environnemental

(Noise

Standards

and

Control)

Rgulations, S. I. No. 35 of 2009:

The main objective of the provisions of this Regulation is to ensure
tranquillity of the human environment or surrounding and their
psychological well-being by regulating noise levels.
National Environmental (Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Soap and
Detergent Manufacturing Industries) Regulations, S. I. No. 36 of
2009:
This Regulation seeks to ensure the safe use of chemicals in line
with best practices including the adaptation of the 3R principles
namely-reuse, recover and recycle.
National

Environmental

(Standards

for

Telecommunications/Broadcasting Facilities) Regulations, S. I.

No. 11 of 2011:
The main objective of this regulation is to ensure that activities of
the telecom industry do not negatively impact on the environment
and human health.
National

Environmental

(Soil

Erosion

and

Flood

Control)

Regulations, S. I. No. 12 of 2011:

The overall objective of this Regulation is to regulate all earthdisturbing activities, practices or developments for non-agricultural,
commercial, industrial and residential purposes.

National Environmental (Desertification Control and Drought

Mitigation) Regulations, S. I. No. 13 of 2011:
This Regulation seeks to provide an effective and pragmatic
regulatory framework for the sustainable use of all areas already
affected by desertification and the protection of vulnerable lands.
National

Environmental

(Base

Metals,

Iron

and

Steel

Manufacturing/Recycling Industries) Regulations, S. I. No.14 of

2011:
The principal thrust of this Regulation is to control all operations
and ancillary activities of this sector in order to safeguard the
Nigerian Environment from their negative impact.
National Environmental (Control of Bush/Forest Fire and Open
Burning) Regulations, S. I. No. 15 of 2011:
The principal thrust of this Regulation is to prevent and minimize
the destruction of ecosystem through fire outbreak and burning of
any material that may affect the health of the ecosystem through
the emission of hazardous air pollutants.
National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in
International Trade) Regulations, S. I. No. 16 of 2011:
The major objective of this Regulation is to protect species of
endangered wildlife from extinction through the prohibition of trade,
importation, etc.
National

Environmental

(Domestic

and

Industrial

Plastic,

Rubber and Foam Sector) Regulations, S. I. No. 17 of 2011:

The principal thrust of this Regulation is to prevent and curtail

pollution of the Nigerian environment from all operations and
ancillary activities of this sector.
National Environmental (Coastal and Marine Area Protection)
Regulations, S. I. No. 18 of 2011:
This Regulation provides for the regulatory framework for the
application

of

preventive,

precautionary

and

anticipatory

approaches so as to avoid degradation of the coastal and marine

environment
National Environmental (Construction Sector) Regulations, S. I.
No. 19 of 2011:
The purpose of this Regulation is to prevent and minimize pollution
of the Nigerian Environment from the impacting activities of
Construction, Decommission and Demolition.
National Environmental (Control of Vehicular Emissions from
Petrol and Diesel Engines) Regulations, S. I. No. 20 of 2011:
The purpose of this Regulation is to safeguard the Nigerian
environment against pollutants from vehicular emission.
National Environmental (Non-Metallic Minerals Manufacturing
Industries Sector) Regulations, S. I. No. 21 of 2011:
This Regulation provides the regulatory framework for the control of
all activities of this sector in order to protect the Nigerian
environment from their negative impact.
National Environmental (Surface and Groundwater Quality
Control) Regulations, S. I. No. 22 of 2011:

The purpose of this Regulation is to restore, enhance and preserve

the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the nations
surface waters, and to maintain existing water uses.
National

Environmental

(Electrical/Electronic

Sector)

Regulations, S. I. No. 23 of 2011:

The main purpose of this Regulation is to ensure that best practices
are applied and maintained in the operation of this sector in order
to safeguard the Nigerian Environment against pollution hazards.

ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES
National regulations and guidelines that have been put in place by
Government include the followings:
Harmful Waste Act retained as Cap HILFN2004 (prohibits the
carrying, depositing and dumping of harmful waste on the
land and territorial waters of Nigeria;
Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and in
Endangered Species) Act retained as Cap E9LFN2004
(Conservation of wildlife and protection of threatened and
endangered species);
Environmental Impact Assessment Act retained as Cap
EI2LFN2004 (Sets out the general principles, procedures and
methods of Environmental Impact Assessment for various
sectors;
National Environmental Protection (Effluent Limitations)
Regulations S.I.8 of 1991 (to ensure the installation of antipollution equipment for the detoxification of industrial effluent
chemicals discharge;
Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum
Industry in Nigeria 2002-seeks control and prevention of
pollution from petroleum operation;
Mineral Oil Safety Regulations 1997 to ensure that oil and gas
operators provide necessary material to their employees;
Petroleum Drilling and production Regulation 1967- regulates
the licensing of oil exploration, prospecting and mining;
National Environmental Protection (pollution abatement in
industries and factories generating waste) Regulations S.I.9 of
1991-regulates the release of hazardous substances into the
ecosystems; and
National Environmental Health Practice Regulations 2007
regulates environmental health practice.
National Environmental Protection: Management of Hazardous
Wastes S. I. 15;
Guidelines on Hazardous Chemicals Management;
Guidelines on Pesticides Management;

 National Chemical Management Profile to assess chemicals

management infrastructure;
National Implementation Strategy for Chemicals Hazard
Communication;
The National Implementation Plan for Persistent Organic
Pollutants; and
National Environmental Health Practice Regulations, 2007.
National

Environmental

Standards

and

Regulations

Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act, 2007

This Act established NESREA and charged it with the responsibility
of protecting and developing the environment in Nigeria, as well as
enforcing all environmental laws, regulations, standards, policies,
guidelines and conventions on the environment to which Nigeria is
a signatory.
Environmental Impact Assessment Act Cap E12 LFN 2004
This Act sets out the general principles, procedures and methods of
environmental impact assessment in various sectors.
Harmful Waste (Special Criminal Provisions, etc.) Act Cap H1
LFN 2004
This Act prohibits the carrying, depositing and dumping of harmful
waste on any land and territorial waters of Nigeria.
Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic)
Act, Cap E9 LFN 2004.
This Act provides for the conservation and management of Nigerias
wild life and the protection of some of her endangered species in
danger of extinction as a result of over-exploitation, as required
under certain international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.

NATIONAL POLICIES, GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS

Corporate Strategic Plan:
This plan describes the scale of the environmental and social
challenges, and explains how NESREA, with the support of other
key stakeholders, will address these issues in year 2009-2012.
Environmental Enforcement Policy:
This policy aims at providing actions to take in enforcing
environmental legislation, standards, regulations and guidelines
fairly and appropriately in a manner that will protect environmental
quality and safeguard public health.
National Environmental Sanitation Policy:
This policy seeks to stimulate, promote and strengthen all
government

regulations

concerned

with

housing

and

urban

development, food security water supply, sanitation related endemic

diseases and illnesses, flood and erosion control, drought control,
school health services and environmental education.
National Policy Guidelines on Sanitary Inspection of Premises:
This policy seeks to promote clean and healthy environment for the
populace.
National Policy Guidelines on Solid Waste Management:
The aim of this policy is to improve and safeguard public health and
welfare through efficient sanitary Solid Waste Management methods
that

will

be

economical,

sustainable

and

guarantee

environmental health.
National Policy Guidelines on School Sanitation:

sound

The purpose of this policy is to protect school children from hazards

and to encourage the provision of sanitary facilities in schools.
National Policy Guidelines on Pest and Vector Control:
This policy is to establish and strengthen pest and vector control
units at the three tiers of government.
Guidelines for Importation of Used Electrical and Electronic
Equipment into Nigeria:
These guidelines seek to discourage the unethical practice of
importation of sub-standard electrical and electronic equipment
(EEE), near-end-of-life EEE which is associated with environmental
and health problems when disposed off by burning in the
environment. They also provide guidance for importers of used
Electrical and Electronic Equipment into Nigeria.
National Policy Guidelines on Market and Sewage Management:
These guidelines ensure the provision of adequate and sustainable
sanitary facilities in and around markets and abattoirs.
National Policy Guidelines on Food Sanitation:
The main objective of the policy is to enhance food security, public
health and quality of life through the promotion of sound food
sanitation practices in all food premises in the country.
National Environmental Sanitation Action Plan:
This plan is aimed at increasing National productivity and foster
Economic Development through improved Environmental sanitation
practices.
National
Handlers:

Training

Manual

on

Food

Sanitation

for

Food

The aim of this policy is to provide food handlers with the

knowledge and skill required to ensure sound food sanitation
practices in order to protect public health, promote quality of life
and reduce poverty.

National Training Manual and Trainers Guidelines on Food

Sanitation for Environmental Health Practitioners:
This training manual is aimed at imparting Environmental Health
Practitioners with the knowledge and skills in food sanitation to
empower them with the capacity to train food handlers and other
stakeholders.
The Ministry has initiated numerous Bills. Some are before the
National Assembly. There are those that have been forwarded to the
Federal Ministry of Justice for processing while others are at the
levels of preparation within the Ministry:
A Bills before the National Assembly
i.
ii.

Response, Compensation and Liability for Environmental

Damage (RECLED) Bill
Petroleum Products and Other Oil Related Activities
Compensatory Relief Bill.

B. Bills at the Federal Ministry of Justice for processing

Climate Change Agency Bill

Forestry Bill
Domestication of the Kyoto Protocol Bill.
Review of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Bill

C. Bills Being Prepared at the Ministerial Level

 National Biodiversity Conservation Agency Bill;

National Environmental Management Bill;
Chemicals Management Bill.
Draft Policies Being Prepared at the Ministerial Level
The
National
Globally
Harmonized
System
(GHS)
Implementation Strategy
(NIS);
Guideline for proper disposal of Impounded/Seized goods;
The National Biosafety Policy;
NESREA Strategic Action Plan;
Review of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan;
Implementation Plan of the Stockholm Convention on
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) for Nigeria;
Classification Of The National Park Service As A Para-Military
Organization;
Climate Change Action Plan;
National Policy on Climate Change;
Revised National Policy on Environment