FG to establish emission testing centres to reduce vehicular emission

The Minister of the Environment, Amina Mohammed, says the Federal Government has concluded plan to establish emission testing centres for regular testing of vehicles plying the nation’s roads.
Mohammed made this known at the 10th National Stakeholders Forum tagged: “Air Quality: Aspects of Control and Regulation.”
It was organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency in Abuja on Monday.
MOhammed expressed the hope that there would be 90 per cent reduction in vehicular emission if the centres were established and effectively utilised.
She explained that the National Vehicular Emission Control Programme was a programme designed to control emission from automobiles.
Mohammed said: “When the programme is fully operational, it will involve the establishment of testing of vehicles plying the roads.
“The programme will involve various stakeholders at federal and state levels and it is envisaged as a public-private partnership arrangement that will create new jobs across the country.”
The minister said that a similar programme had also been designed to address emission from stationary sources, particularly the power generating sets.
She also said that the government would set a functional inter-agency committee to drive the process.
Mohammed called on stakeholders to join hands with the government to reduce the growing incidence and menace of air pollution.
According to her: “We must all work together to get it right, we must take possible actions and involve an enduring legacy to improve the air quality in both rural and urban areas.
“We must build synergies, partnerships and take joint measures against the emission of air pollutants and greenhouse gasses.”
MOhammed called on stakeholders to promote inter-agency cooperation at the federal state levels by supporting the regulatory and enforcement agencies, whose mandates had direct bearing on air quality.
The minister advised universities and other institutions to encourage research and dissemination of research findings on air quality including modelling and forecasting.
She explained that such endeavour would promote fuel efficiency and emissions reduction.
Earlier, Dr. Lawrence Anukam, the Director-General of the agency, said the purpose of the forum was to educate the stakeholders on ways to protect and promote public health.
Anukam said that the forum would also enlighten the stakeholders on the appropriate means to reduce emission to a permissible level.
He, however, urged the stakeholders to support the agency in ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment for the country.