…As UN Advises Govts, To Introduce Tax Pollution, End Fossil Fuel subsidies, Stop Building New Coal Plants,

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has stated that it was making efforts at reducing air pollution at all the nation’s airports.

The Managing Director, FAAN, Capt. Hamisu Yadudu, stated this, while speaking at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

He noted that air pollution is caused by various gaseous pollutants arising from human developmental and industrial activities and disregards for best practices with respect to emissions management.

Yadudu, who was represented by the General Manager, Environment, Mrs. Janet Omere said that FAAN would not relent on its plan measure, monitor and manage the amount of emissions arising from airport activities and operations in Nigeria.

He explained that FAAN was complying with local environmental management guidelines and regulations and at the same time embracing best practices as reeled out in the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and initiatives by other global aviation bodies.

“Between 2009 to date, FAAN has been committed to and have invested in the various environmental management studies that are geared towards monitoring of environmental parameters such as air quality around the nation’s airports with the aim of identifying areas of serious negative impacts require mitigations.

“The environmental management studies/environmental audits carried out within this period on all the airports in the country showed that the amount of air pollutants arising from the airport operations were all within the acceptable limits of World Bank, federal ministry of environment and others.”

Also speaking, the Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Lagos, Mr Ronald Kayanga revealed that some 7 million people die yearly as a result of air pollution induced diseases.

Air Pollution, he said causes long term health problems, such as asthma, and reduces children’s cognitive development.

Kayanga , who was represented by Mrs. Bolanle Olumekor stated that air pollution costs societies more than $5trillion each year.

Kayanga noted that tackling air pollution presented a double opportunity, adding that there were many initiatives that both clear the air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as phasing out coal-fired powered plants and promoting less polluting industry, transport and domestic fields.

He said that with investments in renewable energy a source outstripping those in fossil fuels every year, the rise of clean energy was helping globally cleaner transport was also growing around the world.

According to him, “It is in such initiatives, designed to improve air quality and fight climate change that hope lies. I urge everyone attending the Climate Action Summit that I am convening in September to draw motivation from such examples. There is no reason the international community cannot act. Precedent exists in the Montreal Protocol. Scientists identified a grave threat to public and planetary health, and governments and businesses acted to successfully protect the oozing layer.”

The UN official advised governments to introduced tax pollution, end fossil fuel subsidies and stop building new coal plants, adding that what the world need is green economy and not grey economy

On his part, the Director, Academic Planning Unit, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Obinna Chukwu, told the audience that aviation industry globally contributes about 2 per cent to manmade carbon dioxide emission worldwide.

He noted that in Nigeria, about 1.3 per cent of air pollution is caused by international carriers, while another 0.7 per cent is by domestic operators.

Aviation industry, he said contributes 895 metric tonnes to greenhouse gases, lamenting that this was on the high side.