Pushing towards vehicle emission testing in Nigeria

The ability of air to produce the much needed oxygen can be hampered by air pollution. What then is air pollution?  It is defined as the emission of harmful gases and dust into the atmosphere. Air pollution can be caused by natural or man-made activities and one of such activities is vehicular emissions. Vehicles derive […]

The ability of air to produce the much needed oxygen can be hampered by air pollution. What then is air pollution?  It is defined as the emission of harmful gases and dust into the atmosphere.
Air pollution can be caused by natural or man-made activities and one of such activities is vehicular emissions. Vehicles derive their energy from the combustion of fossil fuels. In the process of combustion, vehicles emit into the environment exhaust gases, which create serious environmental and health concerns.
These emissions contain carbon dioxide (CO2), oxides of sulphur (SOx), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), Ozone (O3) hydrocarbons and particulate matter. Some of these gases are called Green House Gases (GHGs).
Interestingly, these same gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, and have the capacity to trap heat emitted from the earth’s surface, for the insulation and warming of the planet, by a process called the Greenhouse Effect. Without this process (thermal blanketing of the natural greenhouse effect), the earth’s climate would be too cold for most living organisms to survive. The greenhouse effect has naturally warmed the earth for over 4 billion years.
These GHGs in their normal concentrations in the atmosphere sustain life on earth, but a very big challenge emerges when there is an increase in their concentrations. Now scientists are growing increasingly concerned that human activities, particularly in the transport sector, are modifying this natural process, raising the concentrations of these gases to toxic levels, with potentially dangerous environmental and human health consequences
Air pollution causes severe environmental hazards such as acid rain, global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, and are leading causes of climate change. Everyone is aware of the serious climatic problems being faced all over the world such as excessive flooding, droughts etc. Nigeria is already a victim of these environmental disasters. Other environmental hazards include soil pollution, leading to poor agricultural yield, and water pollution that causes aquatic death.
Air pollution causes eye irritation, affects the respiratory system (cough, bronchitis, etc), kidneys, nervous and immune system, cardiovascular, reproductive and developmental systems, leading to neurological dysfunction, heart disease and high blood pressure, birth defects, cancer and sometimes death. The most vulnerable groups are children, aged and people with respiratory infections such as asthma. Some people believe that some mysterious illnesses have been caused by some enemies somewhere.
Despite these environmental and health consequences attributed to vehicular emissions, no nation can do without vehicles. Vehicles are very important assets for the socio-economic development of a nation. They serve as rapid and efficient means of transport for people and movement of goods and services from one place to another. They bring convenience and ease to our lives. The various transportation modes include tricycles, motorcycles, cars, buses, trucks, trains, airplanes, engine powered boats, etc.
Considering the huge benefits derived from the use of vehicles, vis-à-vis their environmental and health implications, vehicular emissions have now become a global issue.
In truth, this topic should be of great concern to every Nigerian, taking cognizance of the fact that majority of the vehicles used in the country are poorly maintained and/or second hand (“tokunbo”) ones with poor engine performance. These categories of vehicles are known to emit huge quantities of harmful air pollutants (GHGs) in the atmosphere, causing severe air pollution with their attendant environmental and health consequences.
 Studies and the aerial view of Nigeria have shown that our atmosphere is highly polluted. This is very evident in the number of smoky vehicles we see plying our roads on daily basis, causing visibility problems and sometimes accidents.
We are thankful to the Federal Government that saw the need to promote a cleaner and healthier environment for Nigeria. The government also promulgated 24 regulations, which cut across different environmental sectors, such as Food, Beverages, Tobacco, Manufacturing, Sanitation and Waste, Noise, Telecommunication, Water, Chemicals, Vehicular Emissions, etc. The Regulations on vehicular emissions called the National Environmental (Control of Vehicular Emissions from Petrol and Diesel Engines) Regulations, 2011, is aimed at controlling our air quality, and some of its main provisions are the mandatory yearly testing of vehicles for toxic air emissions, and the installation of emission reduction technology in our vehicles.  
To achieve this feat, The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), mandated by law to enforce all Environmental Laws, Standards and Regulations in the Country, is vigorously pursuing the establishment of vehicular emission testing centres in all the states of the federation and Abuja under the Public, Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, as well as ensure that all vehicles coming into the country have installed emission reduction technology. This is to ensure that all vehicles plying the Nigerian roads meet the emission standards contained in the regulations. NESREA is poised to ensure that Nigerians inhale clean air.
As a way forward, NESREA is preparing for the formal flag-off (launch) of the National Vehicular Emission Control Programme by Mr. President in 2014.
The developed world has been in this business for years. In the United States of America, through the Clean Air Act of 1970 and subsequent regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) was able to ensure significant improvements in their air quality using green equipment designed to reduce the negative impacts of transportation activities. The American EPA also introduced another innovation called the Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Check, a mechanism that allows proper check on emission control system in vehicles.  To show how effective this has been, all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the U.S today must meet stringent pollution standards.
Nigeria should not be left out. This very laudable project is something that we all should welcome with open hands because visible results will be achieved, which will draw out tremendous applause. This anticipated introduction is expected to enhance the quality of vehicles that ply our roads, promote air quality and also the quality of life of Nigerians.  Smoky vehicles will definitely be a thing of the past.
In addition to vehicular emissions testing, NESREA has engineered several drastic measures to address tough environmental issues such as preventing Nigeria’s seaports from being used as dumping ground for hazardous materials, ensuring that telecommunication operators embrace safety and health measures and quarry operators adopt standardized environment-friendly methods with their remediation and social responsibility plans well spelt out.  The Agency is determined that the era of business as usual in Nigeria is brought to an abrupt halt.
Nigerians would want to see non-smoky vehicles on our roads. You are all relevant stakeholders and very important in the achievement of this noble task. The die is cast now, let the music begin!
Abogu an environmental consultant contributed this article from Onitsha.