Published By Olukayode Idowu
The Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor has said that man become a danger to the ozone layer with his exploitative activities.
In a statement on Thursday in commemoration of the “World Ozone Day”, Ikeazor said we need to protect the Ozone Layer from incalculable destruction worsened by ‘exploitative’ activities of man.
She said: “As we join the rest of the world to commemorate this year‘s “World Ozone Day”, we must remind ourselves of our commitment to improve our environment and make it more friendly for habitation.”
The Minister said: “The theme for this year‘s World Ozone Day, which is: ‘Montreal Protocol – keeping us, our food and vaccines cool,’ seeks to highlight the broader impact of the Montreal Protocol, which is doing a lot in helping to reduce the impact of climate change, through its Kigali Amendment on the phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons–the potent Green House Gases (GHGs) used as refrigerants.”
She noted that in recent years, the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with UNDP, UNIDO, GIZ, World Bank and UNEP, as the Implementing Agencies, has been implementing the Montreal Protocol’s Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) phase out programme in Nigeria.
She explained that in line with the Protocol’s ODS phase-out schedule, we have converted the technology line of over 700 enterprises in the Foam, Refrigeration and Air conditioning, Aerosols, Fire protection and Solvent-Making industries to Ozone friendly ones.
“This has facilitated the 100 percent phasing out of over 4000 Metric Tonnes of both the actual Ozone Depleting Substances, and those with high Ozone Depletion Potentials such as CFCs, Halons, Carbon Tetrachloide and Methyl Bromide,” she said.
Ikeazor said: “In addition, we identified 26 Institutions (Polytechnics and Government Technical Colleges) that offer Refrigeration and Air conditioning courses and equipped them to serve as Training Centers on Good Refrigeration Practices.
“We have also trained the Trainers from the identified centers and developed Training Manuals on Good Refrigeration Practices. These have led to the training of more than 10,000 Refrigeration Technicians in the Cooling Sector.
“In furtherance, we also completed and commissioned an upgraded System House at Vitapur Nig. Ltd (a subsidiary of Vitafoam Nig Ltd), for the formulation of Ozone-friendly systems in the manufacture of rigid polyurethane foam in 2020.”