NAN-AE-16
Environment
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Rep. Obi Chidoka, Chairman House Committee, on Environment and Habitation, says the committee is committed to ensuring that environmental laws and regulations are complied with by various organisations in Nigeria.
Chidoka made this known at the 10th National Stakeholders Forum tagged: “Air Quality: Aspects of Control and Regulation’’ organised by National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), on Monday in Abuja.
He said that the challenges the environment created on human health are huge and complex because of its multifarious sources and the natural activities responsible for environmental pollution.
“According to him, we will continue to work closely with relevant ministries and agencies including NESREA to address the growing menace.
“We will also ensure that environmental laws and regulations are being complied with effectively by various organisations, this is the only way environmental hazards can be tackled,’’ he said.
According to him, the forum will help to address the challenges of air pollution in the country.
Chidoka explained that air quality could be classified into good and poor air, adding that “the good air quality refers to clean and unpolluted air’’.
According to him, the poor air is that which occur when pollutants reach enough concentrations to endanger human health as well as the environment.
He added that air quality could be improved if the environmental laws and regulations were effective in the country.
Chidoka, however, advised NESREA to ensure an effective sensitisation on safety against air pollution.
He also urged Nigerians to make effort to ensure that air quality improved in the society, adding that such commitment would tackle environmental menace.
Also, Sen. Buka Ibrahim, Senate Chairman Committee on Climate Change, said that the National Assembly intended to review all the legislation in the sectors to provide an analytical synthesis of development across the sectors.
Ibrahim said that such sectors include agriculture, mining, forestry, energy, water, transport, among others.
“To improve air quality, we will put in place laws that will bring about the need to travel by car, shift travel to a more efficient mode and improve the energy efficiency of car travel.
“Our committee is set to provide enabling legislation on the swift migration to renewable, bio-fuels and wind energy.
“When this happens on or before 2030, the quality of air will normalised, thereby, giving the people back their life and saving the numerous life we are wasting needlessly,’’ he said. (NAN)
VOE/MO
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Edited by Morayo Omolade