Lagos State Charges Residents To Obey Air Quality Guidelines

The Lagos State Government has urged residents to obey the guidelines and policies for improved air quality in the state.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, gave the advice during the Air Quality Awareness Walk and Interactive Session, organised by the Lagos State Government and the U.S. Mission in Nigeria.

Abayomi said that there was a need for improved air quality, as it affected human health and well-being since it had been indicated that seven million people died of air pollution across the world in 2019.

According to him, research has shown that the air quality in Nigeria and in Lagos is below standard.

He said that as the government put guidelines in place, regulate and create awareness, it behoved on the community to obey, for a healthier society.

The commissioner urged residents to attend to their cars, generators or motorbikes so that they do not emit pollution into the air.

Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, Sector Commander, Lagos State, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said that the Corps was in the business of cleaning up the society and the air, hence, had been impounding vehicles with dangerous emissions.

Mr Brandon Hudspeth, Political-Economic Counselor, U.S. Consulate, said that the U.S. Government was partnering with Lagos State Government to ensure better air quality.

Hudspeth said that the U.S. Government would bring in technical expertise from the United States, who would work with the expertise in Lagos, to raise awareness and monitor air quality.

He said that the data that would be collated from monitoring the air quality would be used to bolster the economy of Lagos State.

Dr Dolapo Fasawe, the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), said that the agency had been creating awareness on the issue of air pollution.

Fasawe said that legislatively and executively, in order to achieve policies of government, enforcement was mandatory and would act as deterrent.

”We will start to get traffic offenders off the streets, no more air pollution in Lagos State, zero tolerance to smoky vehicles and heavy-duty equipment, for cleaner air in Lagos State,” she said.