The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has assured Nigerians and key stakeholders of his ministry’s commitment to promoting the use of low-sulphur fuels and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as part of the nation’s strategy to combat air pollution and improve public health.
The Minister made this statement while inaugurating the Inter-Agency Committee on Fuels recently in Abuja. The committee is tasked with driving initiatives to encourage the adoption of cleaner energy sources across the country.
According to Balarabe, the transition to cleaner fuels is crucial to reducing air pollution and addressing health challenges caused by the high sulphur content in petroleum products. He cited the alarming health impacts of high-sulphur fuels, including rising cases of asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases.
The Minister noted that efforts to establish and enforce new standards for sulphur concentrations in petrol, diesel, and kerosene were achieved through collaboration with critical stakeholders. The reviewed standards, which were introduced in 2016, include:
• Diesel: From 300ppm to 50ppm
• Petrol: From 1,500ppm to 150ppm
• Kerosene: From 1,500ppm to 150ppm
The transition period for these standards was initially proposed between 2017 and 2019. However, the rise in high-sulphur fuel use and its environmental consequences, including extreme weather conditions and air quality deterioration, prompted renewed efforts to enforce cleaner energy alternatives.
The Minister emphasized the critical need for collective action to ensure cleaner fuels, improved public health, and a more sustainable environment for current and future generations.
Committee’s Mandate and Expectations
The newly inaugurated committee will undertake several responsibilities to support the cleaner fuel agenda, including:
• Creation of a Pollution Monitoring Team
• Quality reporting on findings related to fuel and air pollution
• Annual reports with recommendations to the Federal Executive Council (FEC)
• Simulation and projection of pollution trends and mitigation goals
• Development of actionable plans to enable Nigeria meet its climate, health, and developmental targets
In her closing remarks, the Director of Environmental Assessment (EAD) and Acting Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Bolorunduro B., urged the committee to utilize their expertise to achieve the set terms of reference.
Earlier, Mrs. Bahijjatu Abubakar, Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health at the Ministry, commended the committee members for their commitment to the national assignment. She reiterated the Ministry’s goal of achieving clean air and a healthy environment for all Nigerians.
The initiative marks a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources and fulfill its environmental and health commitments on both national and global fronts.
