By Olanrewaju Adesanya
The Nigerian Institute of Environmental Engineers, NIEE has said that it will continue partner with relevant government agencies both at the Federal and State levels to address the menace of noise pollution and its attendant risks on members of the public.
The National Chairman of the Institute, Engr. Monsuru Yinusa disclosed this over the weekend at a press briefing held to commemorate this year’s World Environment Day in Lagos with the theme “ Air Pollution: Utilization of Green Technology to improve Air Quality in Communities.”
The Chairman said that the Institute was particularly interested in prevailing on the government to enforce all environmental related laws to the letter, saying that there are several existing environmental legislation that is not being enforced presently by the government.
“A technical committee will, therefore, be set up to present technical measures and professional view of all appropriate bodies for immediate actions. We should know that protecting our environment and improving its natural value is the fundamental duty of all of us and as such we should strive to leave the environment better than we met it,” the Chairman stated.
While highlighting the effect of air pollution on the environment, the Chairman revealed that air pollution has been called a major global health epidemic, causing one in nine of all deaths.
He added: “Air pollution kills 7 million people each year from exposure to polluted air, both indoor and outdoor, the three biggest killers attribute to air pollution are: stroke, heart disease, lung disease and cancer.”
While saying that across the world, 9 out of 10 people breathe air that has been polluted by Traffic emissions, industry, agriculture and waste incineration, the Chairman proposed a ban on old vehicles that after 10 years from plying Nigerian roads.
Speaking further, the Chairman opined that the Lagos State Government might consider the reintroduction of officials of the Vehicle Inspection Service back on roads to check rickety vehicles that could be constituting environmental nuisances and also, encourage pool-ride to reduce the number of vehicles on roads.
The Vice Chairman of the Institute, Engr. Olalekan Ajani called for the sustenance of the tree planting culture already in place in Lagos State and also urged other states in the country to embrace the greening idea of the State Government to further salvage the environment from further degradation.
He also said that the culture of tree planting must not be left to government alone but be embraced by corporate organisations and individuals marking milestone anniversaries and social engagements.
Ajani stated that strict adherence to physical planning laws must be sustained and followed duly, adding that areas mapped as industrial areas should be treated as such as well as areas already identified as residential areas in the Country’s master plan.
On his part, the National General Secretary of the Institute, Engr. Olasunkanmi Ojowuro said that cursory attention should also be paid to the agricultural sector with emphasis on discouragement of bush burning as means of bush clearing, “bush clearing should be carried out using modern methods that are more environmental-friendly, the use of pesticides and herbicides which is totally hazardous to our health as human should be abolished”, he added.