By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Ogun State government has flagged-off the Vehicular Emission Control Scheme in order to improve the quality of air in the environment and stop hazardous air pollution from vehicles.

Speaking at the programme in Abeokuta, the State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Ola Oresanya, said the scheme is to migrate road users in the state from dirty fuel to cleaner fuel which is in line with the federal government’s aspiration on reduction of carbon footprint in the country, which Nigeria endorsed through Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

While stating that the scheme is not a revenue generating programme or meant to victimize people with smokey cars but strictly to control quality of the air in the environment, he called on them to bring out their cars for testing which would be done by consultants from Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), who would issue their vehicles emission certificates.

“If your vehicle is however sighted hussing out smoke, your certificate will contain what is wrong with your vehicle and you would be advised on what to do”, he said.

By subscribing to the scheme, Oresanya said the state will be more liveable and free from hazardous vehicular emission which will complement the state government’s efforts, as the first state in the country at using CNG powered buses and Electric Bikes in the state transportation system.

In his keynote address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on OGEPA, Hon. Farouk Akintunde, noted that the initiative was a step towards reducing the negative impact of vehicular emission on the environment and public health.

Akintunde emphasised that the scheme was not just a regulatory requirement, but a moral imperative at protecting the health and well-being of citizens.

“The vehicular emission control scheme is a critical component of Ogun State’s efforts to address the challenges of air pollution, the scheme aims at reducing the emission of harmful pollutants from vehicles”.

“We will organise training and capacity building programmes for our enforcement officers to ensure effective monitoring and compliance”, he added.

In his remarks, Ogun State Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Bolanle Muritala, spoke extensively on the need for uniformity in the operations of the scheme across the State and the need for the enforcement team to avoid unnecessary confrontation.

DCP Muritala advised that the scheme should not be limited to vehicular emission alone, but should be extended to burning of tyres, wood burning and bush burning because of their harmful effects on the environment and public health.

Contributing, the Corps Commandant, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Commander Seni Ogunyemi, appealed to all road users to collaborate with the State government at ensuring cleaner and smoke free environment.