25th June, 2010
Federal Government has given an order to confiscate any ship loaded with toxic waste.
This law prohibits the conveying, depositing and dumping of harmful waste on land and territorial waters of Nigeria. With immediate effect, any person who without lawful authority carries, deposits, dumps or causes to be carries, deposits or dumps, or is in possession for the purpose of carrying, depositing or dumping any harmful waste on any land or in any territorial waters or contiguous zone or Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria or its inland waterways is guilty of the offence.
The law also makes it an offence to import or cause to be imported or negotiates for the purpose of importing any lawful waste or sells, offers for sale, buys or otherwise deals in any harmful substance.
This was made known recently during a seminar organised by National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) at Tincan Island Customs Command Apapa.
The Director General of the agency, Dr (Mrs) Ngeri S. Benebo revealed in her paper the penalties for any person found guilty. According to her: “Any carrier including aircraft, vehicle, container and any other thing whatsoever used in the transportation or importation of the harmful waste; and any land on which the harmful waste is deposited or dumped, shall be forfeited to and vested in the Federal Government without any further assurance other than this act”
Section 8 of the Act stipulates that: “Any person who attempts to commit any of the crimes under this Act shall be guilty of a crime and shall on conviction be sentenced to imprisonment for life’’.
—Esther Komolafe