Air pollution kills over 7m people worldwide annually -Ministry

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, Mrs Ibukun Odusote, said it is frightening to know that on yearly basis, over 7 million people worldwide die untimely due to direct and indirect poor air quality.
Odusote who was represented by the Director Human Resources, Daniang Peter , made the disclosure during the commemoration of World Environment Day (WED) with the theme for 2019; “Air Pollination” saying that by estimation 92% of the world population breathe unclean air and this has cost global economy a whooping $ 3.5 trillion on yearly basis .
She said the theme for the year’s WED could not afford to come at a later time than this in view of the threat posed by pollution worldwide especiotly in cities of the world where industries keep growing, Releasing dangerous gasses and pollutants into the air with effective and commensurate efforts at mitigating this growing negative trend. There is therefore the need to double efforts at community,
While adding that most worrisome issues is that of the ozone layers depletion that has over the years gradually exacerbated the ever increasing world temperature with the resultant effects on agriculture, human health and biodiversity in general.”There is therefore the need to double efforts at community, corporate and po|icy levels if the world would still be habitable for a longer while”, Odusote said.
The Perm Sec said the Ministry in the areas of pollution and waste management has created waste recycling projects in various states of the Federation. In addition the Ministry is presentty aggressively
pursuing the Low Sulphur Policy and Ozone Friendly Refrigeration Policy. All this efforts are geared towards reversing the adverse effects of both land and air pollution with the resultant effects on the population, the ecosystem and the economy.
Similarly,the Director Planning Research and Statistics, Dr.Bolatito Obisesan said, the World Health Organization (WHO),mentioned that Nigeria as a country has several worst polluted towns in Africa, such as Onistsha Aba, Kaduna: and Umuahia,there are garbage, smog, loud traffic and severe pollution.
Dr.Obisesan explained that, air pollution is an acute problem in developing countries especially in cities.
“In Nigeria the sources include vehicle Exhaust aggravated by the rising car population, industrial emission especially from Petrochemical industries and cement manufacture, use of gasoline generations as a result of unstable power supply, use of fuel wood for domestic use and energy for small industries”,.
She emphasised that control measures have not been very effective and fully enforced. We need to have sustainable solutions such as vehicle inspection enforcement of legislations, effective refuse collection and evacuation and steady supply of electricity to stop use of gasoline generators to ensure safe environment for the population to love.