*Dr. Ola Oresanya, Commissioner for Environment, in Ogun State of Nigeria, explains the vehicular emission control scheme was designed to migrate road users from dirty fuel to cleaner fuel in line with the Federal Government’s plan to reduce carbon footprints in the country

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The Ogun State Government (OGSG) of Nigeria has flagged-off the Vehicular Emission Control Scheme in a bid to to improve the quality of air in the environment, and stop hazardous air pollution from vehicles.

Speaking at the event, at the Skating Ground, Post Office, Ibara, in Abeokuta, the state capital, Dr. Ola Oresanya, Honourable Commissioner for Environment, in Ogun State, said scheme was designed to migrate road users from dirty fuel to cleaner fuel, which is in line with Federal Government’s aspiration on reduction of carbon footprints across the state, and the entire country.

It is recalled that Nigeria had endorsed the plan for reduction of carbon footprints through Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Dr. Oresanya stated that the scheme is not a revenue generating scheme or meant to victimise people with smokey cars, but strictly to control聽 quality of the air in the environment.

The Commissioner, therefore, urged car owners to bring out their cars for testing.

According to him, this would be done by聽 consultants from the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), who would issue their vehicles emission certificates.

He also said: “If your vehicle is however sighted hussing out smoke,your certificate will contain what is wrong with your vehicle and you would be advised on what to do.”

Oresanya further said by subscribing to the scheme, Ogun State would be more liveable and free from hazardous vehicular emission.

This will also complement the state government’s efforts, as the first state in the country at using CNG-powered buses and Electric Bikes in the state transportation system, stated he.

Earlier in his keynote address on the occasion, Hon. Farouk Akintunde, Special Adviser to the Governor on OGEPA, had noted that the initiative was a step towards reducing the negative impact of vehicular emission on the environment and public health.

Hon. Akintunde stressed the scheme is not just a regulatory requirement, but a moral imperative aimed at protecting the health and well-being of the citizens.

He further said: “The vehicular emission control scheme is a critical component of Ogun State’s efforts to address the challenges of air pollution.

“The scheme aims at reducing the emission of harmful pollutants from vehicles.”

The Special Adviser to the Ogun Governor stated: “We will organise training and capacity-building programmes for our enforcement officers to ensure effective monitoring and compliance.”

In his remarks, DCP Bolanle Muritala, Ogun State Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), spoke extensively on the need for uniformity in the operations of the scheme across the state, and the need for the enforcement team to avoid unnecessary confrontation.

DCP Muritala advised stakeholders to not limited the scheme to vehicular emission alone, but should be extended to burning of tyres, wood burning and bush burning because of their harmful effects on the environment and public health.

In his contribution聽 also, Commander Seni Ogunyemi, Corps Commandant of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), appealed to all road users to collaborate with the state government at ensuring cleaner and smoke free environment.

Other participants in the flag-off ceremony include various Transportation Unions, Vehicle Inspection Officers, So-Safe Corps and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

These stakeholders all pledged their allegiance for the success of the scheme due to its numerous environmental and public health advantages.

Highlight of the flag off was the conduction of emission tests on private and public transportation vehicles with certificates presented to their owners.

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