LASEPA pledges to monitor air quality, enforce compliance with regulations among industrial facilities, others
Lagos Environmental protection Agency (LASEPA) which is the Agency in Lagos saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding and protecting the environment against any form of environmental degradation, pollution or other infractions has declared that air pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing the State today and urges collaboration for improvement.
General Manager, LASEPA Dr. Babatunde Ajayi made this remark during his presentation at the Annual Lecture and Awards of the Property & Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN) on the sub-theme: Air Quality Management in A Megacity Like Lagos, Challenges and Policy Framework.
Ajayi highlighted that in Lagos State, rapid urbanization, industrialization, and population growth have led to increased emissions from vehicles, generators, and industrial activities, adding that this has resulted in poor air quality, which poses significant health risks to our citizens.
The World Health Organization (WHO), he said, estimates that air pollution is responsible for millions of premature deaths worldwide each year.
He mentioned the 6 – point Development Agenda of the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo -Olu administration, popularly called T.H.E.M.E.S plus agenda, noting that Pillars 2 & 3 which is Health and the Environment occupy significant place among other pillars.
This is not by accident, he said, since it underscores the Administration’s commitment and preparedness for a lot of policy reforms from the beginning to improve on the environment, to fight pollution and maintain sustainable environment and quality public health.
Ajayi declared that the challenges in managing air quality in Lagos are multifaceted and include: “Vehicular emissions: Lagos has one of the highest numbers of vehicles in Africa, contributing significantly to air pollution.
“Generator usage: The unreliable power supply in Nigeria leads to widespread use of generators, which emit harmful pollutants to the environment
“Industrial activities: Our industrial sector contributes to air pollution through emissions from factories and other industrial processes. Most of our industries do not have Effluent / Air Treatment plants and few that have been either malfunctioning or no skilled workers to operate them. As a result, a large number of our industrial organisations discharge their raw Effluent into the environment or the water bodies, while they litter the environment with smoke from various manufacturing activities.”
He disclosed that in order to address these challenges, the Lagos State Government, through the Lagos Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has continued to implement various reform policies of the State government geared towards achieving a pollution free and sustainable environment via: “Regulatory measures: We have established emission standards for vehicles and industries. This is made possible through our collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Vehicle Inspection service VIS and other regulatory agencies in the Transportation Sector.
“Monitoring and enforcement: We monitor air quality and enforce compliance with regulations especially among industrial facilities in the State. This is to ensure that they all abide by the standard procedures.
“Public education: We educate the public on the importance of air quality management. We organize an annual Effluent Treatment and Air Abatement Workshop for all industrial facilities in the State to teach them the operational procedures of their Effluent Treatment Plants and Air Abatement treatment plant operations.
“Collaboration: We work with stakeholders, including government agencies like the Nigeria Environmental Standard and Regulations Monitoring Association, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN) industries, and civil society.
“LASEPA also carries out a lot of advocacy programs to promote cleaner energy, sustainable transportation, and green infrastructure.”
He mentioned that the 14 industrial zones in Lagos each have emission problems, while most chemical industries’ emissions are affecting fishing activities.
He cited noise pollution from churches and mosques and assured that there is a need for the regulation to be tightened to hold people accountable for others to be able to sleep.
He disclosed that the Agency carries out air quality monitoring in Lagos, noting that the monitoring has reinforced the strength of their advocacy.
LASEPA boss emphasized that managing air quality in a megacity like Lagos requires a multi-faceted approach and called on all stakeholders to work together to address the challenges and implement effective policies to protect the health and well-being of our citizens.
Ajayi commended PEWAN for its unrelented support for a cleaner and sustainable environment in Lagos State, adding that LASEPA will continue to partner with the Association and other ones, towards achieving a safer, neater and pollution free Lagos of our collective dreams.