EHCON To Seal Facilities Over Non-compliance With Emissions Assessments

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has stated its readiness to seal facilities nationwide over non-compliance with emission assessments. 

This was even as the council stated that all facilities must undergo carbon emissions assessments based on generator capacity and usage.

The Registrar of EHCON, Dr Yakubu Baba
stated this on Tuesday at the launch of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Initiative of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, under the National Air Quality Programme of the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja. 

News Rider reports that the initiative tagged Oxytane Fuel Additive, is designed to enhance engine performance and increase fuel efficiency by over 25 percent, as well as reduce harmful emissions by up to 70 percent.

Unveiled by EHCON in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment and Oxytane Africa Investment Limited, the initiative will strengthen environmental governance and control Nigeria's carbon footprints. 

Baba said that though EHCON intends to prioritise advocacy, that non-compliance could attract sanctions under existing environmental health regulations.

He added: "We have the power to issue contravention notices and obtain sealing orders from designated magistrates’ courts where necessary."

Already, the council has deployed 30 teams of Environmental Health Officers nationwide to cover 16 thematic sectors including industries, construction firms, hospitals, hotels, training institutions and mining sites.

Compliance Monitoring 

Baba assured that EHCON will lead the implementation of the initiative through compliance monitoring of emission levels, deployment of environmental health officers and collaboration with industry stakeholders. 

This is in addition to creating public awareness and behaviour-change campaigns, and integration of emission control into environmental health practice. 

"Our approach is preventive, data-driven, and nationally coordinated," he said.

He maintained that a generator consuming 20 litres of fuel over 10 days could utilise 10 litres over 13 to 14 days with the use of additive. 

"It is an environmental solution that also makes economic sense because businesses and transport operators stand to benefit from lower fuel costs while contributing to emission reduction," he said. 

The registrar pointed out that under the new compliance framework, facilities operating generators above 25KVA will adopt the emission-reduction solution.

"However, smaller generator users will not face mandatory enforcement. Instead, the product will be made available in open markets to encourage voluntary adoption," he added.

Shared Responsibility 

The regiatrar enjoined transport operators, energy sector players, industrial establishments, state governments, local government authorities and Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) to embrace the initiative as a shared national responsibility.

He appreciated the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, regulatory, technical and development partners, and industry stakeholders for their support and confidence in EHCON’s leadership in the critical national programme.

Baba said: "We are not merely launching a programme, we are  launching a new direction; a  direction where environmental regulation prevents disease,  innovation supports sustainability, and a direction where public health protection begins with the air we breathe.

"Together, we shall build a Nigeria where the air is cleaner, the people are healthier, and the future is brighter.

"Protecting air quality is protecting life itself."

Baba assured Nigerians that the supply of the additive would be sustained through Public Private Partnerships (PPP), adding that the current stock would serve Nigeria for three months, while the additive would be restocked if demand increases.