Ogun introduces scheme to protect environment

The Ogun State government has announced the introduction of Vehicle Emission Control Scheme as part of efforts to ensure a healthy environment.Mr Adebayo Fari, the state's Commissioner for Environment, made this public in Abeokuta while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the consultants on the scheme.``In pursuance of its commitment to ensuring a healthy environment devoid of gaseous and vehicular emissions, the state government has put in place a control mechanism to check such harmful substances,'' he said.He said the scheme would involve subjection of vehicles to emission tests.Fari said gaseous emission from vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, trailers, generating sets and industrial machines constituted air pollution.He said the development had become an issue of utmost concern and top priority to the state government.`` Studies have shown that vehicular emission accounts for more than 50 per cent of all sources of air pollution, followed by industrial discharges.``This is why the United Nation Organisations and other relevant international agencies put in place various mechanisms for abating, monitoring and controlling vehicular gaseous emissions,'' he said.He said there was legal backing for the scheme, citing Section (2) of the Ogun State Environment Protection Agency (OGEPA) Edict No1 of 1995.''The Ministry of Environment through OGEPA has powers to make regulations and prescribe emission standards for discharge into the atmosphere,'' he explained.The commissioner stressed that the main consideration for the introduction of the scheme was the health of the residents and not fund generation.He urged the consultants to be civil in enforcing the law as well as be transparent with the government while being diligent at work.Responding on behalf of the consultants, Mr Leke Sofola described their partnership with the state government on the scheme as a call to service.He gave an assurance that they would abide by the rules of engagement and help in the rebuilding agenda of government.
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