07/10/2026
NESREA DG URGES RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTION AT JOS LEATHER AND FASHION SUMMIT
The Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Innocent Barikor, has urged operators in the leather and fashion industry to embrace responsible and sustainable production as a pathway to global market access.
Prof. Barikor made the call in remarks delivered on his behalf by the Acting Zonal Director, North-Central Zone, Mr. Appiah Jude Fiifi, at the Jos National Leather & Fashion B2B Summit and Fair held recently in Plateau State.
The Summit, with the theme “Leather and Fashion beyond Borders: Driving Innovation, Commercialization and Global Market Access for Economic Reform,” was convened by the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) and the National Task Force on Leather Policy Implementation, alongside other stakeholders.
Prof. Barikor stressed that environmental protection and economic growth should not be viewed as competing objectives, but rather as complementary, emphasizing that NESREA does not see itself as an obstacle to industrial development, but as a partner working with industry to ensure growth that is sustainable, responsible, export-ready and capable of meeting international expectations.
Speaking on the Agency’s regulatory role, the DG explained that operations in the tanning, leather, textile, wearing apparel and footwear industries are guided by the provisions of the National Environmental (Textile, Wearing Apparel, Leather and Footwear Industry) Regulations, S.I. No. 34 of 2009.
He added that the Agency has supported the sector through the review of Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Audit Reports, compliance monitoring, and technical engagement with regulated facilities.
While acknowledging progress, Prof. Barikor said sectoral compliance could be further strengthened through formalization of informal operators, adoption of clustered effluent treatment facilities for small and medium-scale tanneries, strengthened collaboration among relevant stakeholders, adoption of digital monitoring and reporting systems, and continuous capacity building for both regulators and industry.
