From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NASREA) has refuted some media reports that it sealed off the property belonging to former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, in the Judges Quarters precinct of Makurdi, Benue state.
NESREA, through its Benue State Field Office, yesterday, stated that instead of Ayu’s property, it was Pure Biotech, an Ethanol producing company along Gboko Road, that was sealed because of industrial pollution.
A statement by the State Coordinator NESREA (Benue State Field Office), Mr. Iormough Daniel,
explained that NESREA merely requested the contractor handling construction of Ayu’s property located at Judges Quarters to submit the Environmental Management Tool (EIS) permitting him to commence work on the site.
The statement, personally signed by State NESREA coordinator, reads in part:
“NESREA Benue State Field Office Makurdi has never sealed the facility under construction in Makurdi belonging to Sen. Iorchia Ayu as alleged by a publication.
“The company under seal is an ethanol producing company by name *Pure Biotech* located along Gboko Road due to the pollution from its processes and operating without a functional effluent treatment plant.
“The fact that the agency carried out a routine monitoring inspection on facilities does not mean all the facilities visited are under seal.”
The statement added: “The Contractor handling Construction at Judges Quarters was served to submit the Environmental Management Tool (EIS) which permit him to carryout the project.”
Daniel further explained that the architect, being a NESREA-accredited consultant, has since commenced the process and formally informed the Field Office accordingly.
“The Field Office consequently enjoined the general public to disregard “the mischievous news”,the satement urged.
Similarly, Special Assistant, Media/Communication to the former National Chairman, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Simon Tswam, in a statement described the publication in one of the dailies(not Peoples Daily) that Ayu’s property was sealed as ‘mischievous’
Recall that the paper had reported that the property in question was sealed by the Federal Government agency citing the “owner’s failure to tender relevant documents relating to site plans.”
