The National Environmental Regulatory Standards and Enforcement Agency (NESREA) over the week  sealed off the premises of three companies in Owerri for violating environmental rules and standards.

The companies are Camela Vegetable Oil Coy Ltd and Onyx Crown Oils Ltd, both located at the Owerri Industrial Layout, and Rokana Industries, Nekede, near Owerri.

The Principal Scientific Officer of NESREA, South-East, Mr Aliu Kehinde, said Camela Vegetable Oil Coy was discharging untreated affluent waste water into the environment.

Kehinde said the substance had seriously devastated the environment, adding that the company had failed to provide personal protective equipment for its workers as provided for by law, and a wall around its storage tanks to contain possible spills.

He said that Onyx Vegetable Oils and Rokana Industries failed to conduct environmental audit report expected to be done every three years.

The principal scientific officer expressed concern with the non-compliance with environmental rules and standards by some indigenous companies in Imo.

He pointed out that the agency had for years been urging such companies to comply, but some had remained recalcitrant while others had been so slow in responding.

Kehinde said, however, that some companies, especially multi-nationals, had been complying with the environmental laws.

He said that NESREA would continue to enforce its rules and standards in the state, urging the companies to endeavour to keep to the environmental rules and standards.

He threatened that the agency would further prosecute erring companies.