4 containers of used electronics impounded at Apapa port

Lagos –  The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) on Thursday impounded four containers of used electronics, described as e-wastes.

Mrs Eunice Eze, the Lagos State Coordinator of the agency, after an inspection in Apapa port, Lagos, said that the containers would be repatriated to the countries of export.

“Importers cannot use Nigeria as a dumping ground. There was a guideline given to them on importation of used electronics,’’ she said

Eze said that when the government set up NESREA to regulate how used electronics were imported into the country, adding that NESREA officials also trained importers of used electronics.

“The regulation and guideline specifies that if a part of electronics is broken or missing or has expired, they are regarded as wastes and cannot be brought into the country.’’

She said that Nigeria did not have re-cycling plants, adding that most of the used electronics that did not meet the standards specified by the government could not be disposed easily.

Eze said that the importers of the four impounded containers were not registered by NESREA and would be surcharged N250,000 for the illegal importation before the containers would be sent back.

NESREA and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in 2010 arrested many ships which brought toxic wastes into the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos.

In April 2010, NCS arrested and detained  ‘MV Nashiville,’ allegedly laden with toxic wastes and  “M.V. Gumel’’in June 2010 for bringing eight containers with materials suspected to be toxic.

Also on Oct. 5, 2010, “MV Vera D’’ brought two containers of toxic wastes to the Tin-Can Island Port from U.K.

It will be recalled that in 1988, over 3,500 tonnes of toxic wastes were dumped at Koko in Delta, which caused serious consequences on the people of the area. (NAN)