The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) shut down eight enterprises in Akwa Ibom State on Thursday for breaking numerous environmental policies and laws.

Hensek Integrated Nigeria Ltd, Basse Engineering & Michel Ltd, Peacock Paints Ltd, and Wizchino Engineering Ltd are some of the enterprises that have been affected.

Lion Plywood and Timber Nig Ltd, China Civil Engineering Construction Ltd, VKS Nig Ltd, and DPL Construction Ltd are among the other companies that were closed down.

Mrs. Iwobi Ngozi, the Coordinator of the Agency in the state, told journalists in Uyo during an interview that affected enterprises did not produce Environmental Audit Reports as mandated by law in their activities, as she explained in the interview.

Mrs. Iwobi said, “The level of impunity exhibited by these erring facilities must not be allowed to continue This exercise ongoing process and the Agency will, without warning, go ahead to sanction any facility that falls below regulatory standards.

“The last two companies mentioned above obstructed us when we visited them during our routine checks on them. The security men at the gate attack the team from our Agency and prevented us from entering the company facility. VKS and DPL obstructed us. That alone was another offense that attracts another penalty before we reopen their facility for the operation,” she added.

“Notice for obstructing the team and the penalty have been sent to them. Contrary to section 31 of NESREA established Act, It is an offense for Officers of the Agency to be obstructed by a person or persons or by a corporate body from performing his or her duties.

“It is worthy to note that besides its robust mandate, the Agency’s compliance monitoring and enforcement activities are structured and carried out based on the provisions of 33 National Environmental Regulations”, she said.

Mrs. Iwobi said the corporations ignored all the warnings of caution and compliance notices provided to enable them to carry out their operations in an environmentally acceptable and sustainable manner, which she said they did not do.

To end a period of extreme negligence and non-compliance with set norms and rules by particular industries, she said that the Agency would continue its nationwide enforcement efforts.