By Daniel Eteghe
The Federal  Government has reiterated its effort to ban the importation of harmful environmental goods into the country that is capable of posing serious health implications to the citizenry.

This  was disclosed by the Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NIMET), Mr. Anthony  Anuforom  at this years’ International day for the preservation of  the ozone layer with the theme: “Ozone Layer Protection and Governance at their best” in Lagos recently.

He said that in 1994, the United Nation general assembly adopted a resolution called the Montreal Protocol Convention that proclaimed September 16th as the International Day for the preservation of the ozone layer which the country was a signatory to.

“ We have been constantly complying with the Montreal  Protocol of fading out completely the ozone depleting  substances and the Federal Government have done remarkably well  by fading out completely all the ‘Tokunbo fridges and air conditions’ and they are actually doing fine.

“We are in Nigeria that is why for every law there are penalties. So those who still engage in importing these banned goods are ignorant of the dangers involved. If they are actually aware of the danger I am sure they will stop importing it. Another reason why you still see these goods around is the issue of poverty.

“Maybe they cannot afford a new one and that is the one they can afford. So it something we have to keep working on,” he said.
The NIMET  boss, who was represented by the Director, Applied Meteorological Services, NIMET, Mrs. Julie Ukeje, advised that the country needed to  protect its environment by adhering  to the principles of the treaty  by avoiding the use of air refresheners, insecticides perfumes,  that are not ozone friendly and minimizing bush burning and smoky vehicle which are not only destroying the ozone layer but very injurious to life.

Meanwhile, Dr. Feyisetan Olumuyiwa, from the department of geography, faculty of social science, University of Lagos, who was also a speaker at the event, said that it was important for the government to ensure that goods which have been banned do not find their way into the country again.

He said:  “It is through the initiative of the government in making sure that substances that have been banned, that are known to cause ozone depletion are adhered to and should not be allowed to get into our shores.

“This substances include refrigerators, airconditioners which have some gases that are ozone depleting and over the years, such things have been reduced, particularly the issue of the reduction in the importation of second-hand refrigerators and air conditioners.”

He stated that continued depletion of the ozone layer could expose the human skin to certain diseases, such as skin cancer, if nothing was done to stop it.