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ABUJA – The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal has said his ministry has commenced promotion of low sulphur in fuel and Compressed Natural Gas CNG to reduce air pollution as well as human health hazards caused by high sulphur in petroleum products in the country.
Balarabe stated this while inaugurating the Inter-Agency Committee on Fuels to promote the use of low Sulphur Fuels and CNG in Abuja.
A statement on Sunday said that thel Minister noted that the use of cleaner fuels will significantly reduce air pollution and human health challenges caused by high sulphur in Petroleum products.
The Minister lamented that high sulphur fuels have been linked to rising cases of asthma attacks, acute/chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive lung diseases and many other ailments.
He stated that the reviewed Nigeria Industrial Standards for Sulphur concentration in Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene was made possible by the mandate of the Ministry and support from the critical stakeholders.
The Minister disclosed that the standards are as follows: Diesel – From 300ppm to 500ppm; Petrol – 1, 500ppm to 150ppm and Kerosene -1, 500ppm to 150ppm in 2016 and transition was proposed in 2017-2019.
He emphasized on the rise of the use of high sulphur concentrations in fuels which resulted to associated rise in extreme weather, dirty air and others effects of climate change leading to the collaborative action towards ensuring a cleaner fuel, environment and improved public health for the people.
According to the Minister, the term of reference before the committee includes Creation of a Polution Monitoring Team, Quality Reporting on finding, Annual Report with recommendations to Federal Executive Council ( FEC ), Simulation and Pollution projectlion and mitigation goals and Develop Action Plans for the Federal Government on cleaner fuels to enable Nigeria attain climate, health and developmental goals.
The Director of Environmental Assessment (EAD), Mrs Bolorunduro B. who doubled as the Acting Permanent Secretary in her closing remark urged the committee to put their wealth of experience together to attain the term of reference ((ToR) of the national assignment.
Also in her opening remark, Director Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs Bahijjatu Abubakar, thanked all committee members for accepting to serve in order to support the ministry in its bid to achieve clean air and healthy environment.
