Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said the ministry is carrying out research on appropriate technology that would be deployed to mitigate the dangers of pollution in major cities in the country.
The minister disclosed this while inaugurating the Technical Inter-Ministerial Sub-Committee on Pollution Control in Nigeria.
Onu explained that the ministry is currently in talks with inventors and innovators on how to deploy technology for effective mitigation of problems arising from climate change.
According to him, efficient data collection and analysis will lead to the development of evidence-based policies that will reduce pollution in the country.
He added that reports on ongoing researches being conducted by the ministry would be made available to relevant ministries, department and agencies, as well as regulatory authorities, to enhance the campaign against pollution.
Citing a recent World Health Organisation report, Onu noted that road transportation, industries and power generators have been identified as the major causes of pollution in the country.
“Road transportation is the primary source of pollution due to high vehicle density, use of old emission technologies and high sulphur content in diesels and gasoline fuel,” he said.
Onu therefore charged members of the technical committee to look into other causes of pollution in major cities in the country and recommend appropriate solutions to nip the menace in the bud.
The technical committee’s terms of reference include review of the 2020 World Bank report on high cost of air pollution in Lagos and other big cities in the context of the National Action Plan on Short-lived Climate Pollutants approved by Federal Executive Council.
The committee will also recommend short to medium term remedial measures for cutting down the level of pollution in big cities.
It will also come up with technical solutions and recommend appropriate technology for mitigating and remediating pollution in Nigeria.
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