BY CALEB AYANSINA & FUNMI OLASUPO

WORRIED by the rate of carbon emitted into the atmosphere from the burning of illicit drugs , substandard materials and similar items by regulatory agencies, the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Agency, NESREA, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA,have launched sustainable burning equipment to prevent and minimise the destruction of the country’s ecosystem.

Vanguard Homes & Property gathered that the air curtain machine which comes in various categories has the capacity of destroying any material at the lowest rate of carbon emission, thereby reducing the effect of greenhouse gases on the ecosystem.

At the launching ceremony, which witnessed the destruction of 7, 224.2kg of various illicit hard drugs, in Abuja, the Minister of Environment, Darius Ishaku, an architect, said there were immense benefits in the new environment-friendly technology burning in comparison with the conventional practice.

Speaking on the adverse effects of hard drugs, he maintained that, “the agency has spared this nation and indeed the world from harm through its effective regulatory machinery”.  Aside this, the minister said there were environmental costs that might be incurred “ from emissions and the resultant air pollution, when open burning is employed as the means of disposal” of those hard drugs. “This is applicable not only to hard drugs, but also in cases of disposal of substandard goods, counterfeit, contraband, expired and unwanted materials, by other regulatory agencies,” he said.

The Minister represented by a Director in the ministry, Mrs. Olufunke Babade, explained that “environmental pollution arising from such open burning is becoming worrisome, considering the impact of smoke being released into the atmosphere.

“The circulation of these particulates in the human respiratory system often leads to persistent cough, sneezing, wheezing and general body discomfort. It also aggravates existing respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.”