The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal has assured Nigerians and all relevant stakeholders of adequate publicity and promotion of the potentials of Low Sulphur Fuels and (CNG) in the country.
A statement signed by the ministry’s press department said Balarabe disclosed this while inaugurating the Inter-Agency Committee on Fuels to promote the use of low Sulphur Fuels and CNG in the country recently in Abuja.
The minister noted that the use of cleaner fuels will significantly reduce air pollution and human health challenges caused by high sulphur in Petroleum products.
The minister lamented that high sulphur fuels have been linked to rising cases of asthma attacks, acute/chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive lung diseases and many other ailments.
He further stated that the reviewed Nigeria Industrial Standards for Sulphur concentration in Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene was made possible by the mandate of the ministry and support from the critical stakeholders.
The minister disclosed that the standards are as follows: Diesel – From 300ppm to 500ppm; Petrol – 1, 500ppm to 150ppm and Kerosene -1, 500ppm to 150ppm in 2016 and transition was proposed in 2017-2019.
He further emphasised on the rise of the use of high sulphur concentrations in fuels which resulted in rise in extreme weather, dirty air and other effects of climate change.
According to the minister, the term of reference before the committee includes Creation of a pollution Monitoring Team, Quality Reporting on finding, Annual Report with recommendations to Federal Executive Council (FEC), Simulation and Pollution projection and mitigation goals and Develop Action Plans for the Federal Government on cleaner fuels to enable Nigeria attain climate, health and developmental goals.
Also in her opening remark, Director Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs Bahijjatu Abubakar, thanked all committee members for accepting to serve in order to support the Ministry in its bid to achieve clean air and healthy environment.
FG Inaugurates C’ttee To Push Cleaner Fuels, Cut Emissions is first published on The Whistler Newspaper