FG vows to reduce air pollutants by 50%  

The federal government has pledged to reduce all forms of air pollutants to 50% by 2030.

Minister of State for Environment Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako made this disclosure during a press conference to commemorate this year’s International Day of Clean Air for Blues Skies, with the theme: “Invest in CleanAirNOW” in Abuja.

Dr Salako said the ministry is set to create awareness on the importance of clean air for human and environmental health, productivity and economic growth.

“Globally, there is a growing concern about air pollution and the threat poor air poses to our existence with air pollution now regarded as the world’s single largest environmental health risk. It is estimated that 99% of the world’s population is breathing polluted air with dire consequences for everything we hold dear.

According to the State of Global Air, 2024, air pollution is the second leading risk factor for premature deaths resulting in around 8.1 million deaths annually from conditions such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute respiratory infections. This is more than the death associated with malaria and HIV combined. 

Dr Salako emphasized that the ministry is working to improve the quality of air been inhaled by Nigerians using multifaceted policy instruments, legislations, programmes and projects to regulate, enforce and promote minimum air quality standards.  

He explained that the vehicular emission is a major area that we need to deal with in improving our air quality and government will continue to put measures in place including appropriate tariffs and taxes to discourage the importation of old and rickety vehicles, encourage local manufacturing and assembling of vehicles. 

The strategic agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to promote the use of alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas and scale up electric vehicles penetration in our transportation system is a bold initiative that is good for our air quality. Similarly, the government continues to promote mass transportation system such as trams and rail not only for its cost-effectiveness but in order to reduce cummulative emission from the transport system that pollutes our air and chokes our public health. 

The Federal Ministry of Environment is working to establish a national framework to guide States that are setting up vehicular and generator Emissions Testing Centres in line with minimum standards developed by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria. 

“We are determined to ensure that vehicular and generator emission testings is not just about revenue but about compliance with National Ambient air quality standards. In addition, we have commenced a pilot scheme for Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Industrial Emission Monitoring Scheme (I.E.M.S) as a vital initiative designed to enhance the capacity to manage and mitigate industrial pollution across the country effectively.

According to Dr Salako, said in order to reduce the contribution of domestic cooking to air pollution, we have developed and we are implementing our National Clean Cooking Policy with the overall goal of achieving universal access to clean cooking energy solutions for households and institutions by 2030. 

“Gas flaring and artisinal refining remains a major contributor to the pollution of our air. The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has therefore commenced a gas flare down programme in line with the commitment of Nigeria to end routine gas flaring by 2030. In addition, as part of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), youths in Ogboni land are being trained in alternative livelihood in order to discourage artisinal refining,” he stressed.