Vehicular emissions targeted to improve air quality, says Environment Minister

By Kunle Sanni

The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has identified vehicular emissions as a significant issue affecting air quality in Nigeria.

He outlined the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing this problem during a press conference held last week to mark the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.

Salako announced that the government would implement measures such as appropriate tariffs and taxes to discourage the importation of old and rickety vehicles while promoting the local manufacturing and assembly of cleaner, modern vehicles.

The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2020, aims to strengthen international cooperation in improving air quality and reducing air pollution.

This year’s event focused on raising awareness of the critical importance of clean air for human health, environmental sustainability, productivity, and economic growth. The global agenda seeks to reduce all forms of air pollutants by 50% by 2030.

Salako highlighted the growing concern over air pollution, which is now considered the world’s single largest environmental health risk. He emphasized that an estimated 99% of the global population breathes polluted air, posing severe threats to health and the environment, and stressed the urgent need for concerted action to tackle this challenge.

According to the State of Global Air 2024 report, 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 deaths associated with malaria and HIV combined.

Furthermore, new research by the ISGlobal Barcelona Institute for Global Health and the Barcelona Beta Brain Research Centre, published in June 2023, confirmed that air pollution is directly linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Beyond the direct adverse effects on health, air pollution from greenhouse gases, Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs), and black carbon is at the core of global warming, driving climate change and climate disasters, leading to loss of lives, food insecurity, economic losses, migration, and physical insecurity challenges.

The Minister stated, “Nigeria, as a country, faces significant air pollution challenges and was ranked the 3rd most polluted country in Africa by the 2021 World Air Quality Report. In 2023, the average PM2.5 concentration in Nigeria was 4.8 times the World Health Organization’s annual air quality guideline value.

“Like most parts of the world, vehicular emissions are the greatest contributor to air pollution, compounded in our country by the many old, second-hand, third-hand, and even multiple-hand automobiles plying our roads. Other sources include industrial activities, illegal refining, gas flaring, burning of refuse, household cooking, and power generation.”

“If we fail to take action and reverse the current high level of air pollution in our country and the world, the repercussions for public health, our economy, the environment, and our survival will be far-reaching.

“According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), air pollution is estimated to cost the global economy 8.1 trillion USD per year, equivalent to 6.1% of global GDP, due to increased healthcare costs.”

Salako noted that the Federal Ministry of Environment, through its regulatory and enforcement agencies and in collaboration with other MDAs, is working to improve the quality of air Nigerians breathe using multifaceted policy instruments, legislation, programs, and projects to regulate, enforce, and promote minimum air quality standards.

“The issue of vehicular emissions is a major area that we need to address in improving our air quality. The government will continue to put measures in place, including appropriate tariffs and taxes, to discourage the importation of old and rickety vehicles and encourage local manufacturing and assembly of vehicles.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strategic agenda to promote the use of alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and to scale up electric vehicle penetration in our transportation system is a bold initiative that is good for our air quality.

“Similarly, the government continues to promote mass transportation systems such as trams and rail, not only for their cost-effectiveness but also to reduce cumulative emissions from the transport system that pollute our air and threaten public health.”

He added that the Ministry of Environment has been working with sister ministries and agencies to switch to low-sulfur fuels while Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS) for Petroleum Products have been reviewed in line with AFRI IV Standards, with implementation expected to commence soon.

“The Federal Ministry of Environment is working to establish a national framework to guide States in 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 emissions testing 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 (IEMS) as a vital initiative designed to enhance the capacity to manage and mitigate industrial pollution across the country effectively. In the coming days, we plan to commence a national rollout of the QA/QC IEMS.”

“In order to reduce the contribution of domestic cooking to air pollution, we have developed and 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.

“To demonstrate the government’s commitment to the clean cooking policy, we held a Clean Cook Fair earlier in the year to mobilize local investments for clean cooking technologies. In addition, about 15,000 clean cook stoves will be distributed across the country in 2024 as part of an initiative being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Environment.”

“Gas flaring and artisanal refining remain major contributors to air pollution. The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has therefore commenced a gas flare-down program in line with Nigeria’s commitment to end routine gas flaring by 2030.

“As part of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), youths in Ogoniland are being trained in alternative livelihoods to discourage artisanal refining,” the Minister noted.

He concluded by stating that stakeholders are being engaged in the development of the National Policy on Air Quality Management and a Youth-led National Clean Air Programme, which will work with celebrities and high-net-worth individuals as Clean Air Ambassadors.

The National Clean Air Campaign #BreatheEasyNigeria is expected to be launched soon.