Environmental Protection Agency Law, no. 14 of 2017

This Law establishes the Environmental Protection and Conservation Agency in the State of Bauchi. The Law defines the following terms: contaminant agent; waste disposal; plant and naturally grown trees; environment and the ecosystem. Matters covered by the Law focus on the following powers and functions of the Agency: strengthening sanitary inspections of premises; promoting a healthy environment, by ensuring solid waste management; minimising waste generation and increasing reuse and recycling programmes; promoting the use and maintenance of an efficient sewage management system; ensuring a safe management of industrial waste to protect public health; maintaining adequate standards of sanitation in environmental management; controlling pests and vectors in households, officers, food premises, industries, agricultural farms; monitoring toxic effects of pesticides on the ecosystem and public health; ensuring adequate measures to protect plant and trees; issuance of environmental impact assessments; conducting training programmes for industrial, commercial and public institutions and to recruit and train sanitary, engineering manager and environmental extension workers; promoting research on environmental issues; adopting and executing all existing bilateral and multilateral agreements, memorandum of understanding, cultural obligations with international agencies, non-governmental organisations. Further matters covered by this Law include: establishment of the Board of the Agency and of targeted committees; financial provisions and funds of the Agency; offences, penalties and enforcement powers, including specific sanctions for using chemicals and explosives for fishing.