On Wednesday, the Ekiti State Government took action by sealing the premises of four second-generation banks in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
All Nigeria Latest News reports that this measure was implemented due to the banks’ violation of Environmental Impact Assessment Laws.
The state Environmental Protection Agency, operating under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, additionally sealed several business premises for non-payment of required dues related to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and audit.
Mrs Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, the Commissioner for Environment said the move was to restore sanity in the state, adding that the sealed premises would only be reopened when the owners did the needful.
She said, “Governor Oyebanji’s administration has approved the enforcement of the state Environmental Protection Law 2010 as it relates to EIA. All corporate and private business owners violating this law will have their business facilities sealed.”
She said the ministry had earlier written to the organisations but they ignored the 43 days’ notice given to them.
Olukayode Adunmo, the General Manager, Ekiti SEPA said, “The state Environmental Protection Law stipulates that before any construction is done in the state, you must obtain an EIA certificate. However what we have seen in most of the banks is that at the time the buildings were constructed, they did not obtain the necessary permit from the Ministry of Environment.
“Having gone through our records in conjunction with the state Internal Revenue Service, which told us that they could not find the names of the banks as having paid the necessary dues for EIA and for audit, we have to commence this activity to certify whether they paid or they evaded the content of the law.”