Emission Control Why?

The threat from exhaust emissions from vehicles and generators are twofold - health and economic. The most serious problem resulting from exhaust emissions are the adverse health effects. Carbon Monoxide, Hydrocarbons, Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Particulate Matters and Carbon Dioxide are the main constituents in the exhaust and are major causes of respiratory illnesses and other diseases. It is a very serious public health issue.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization, the top ten causes of death in Nigeria in order of importance are:

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Lower Respiratory Infections
  • Malaria
  • Diarrhoeal Diseases
  • Measles
  • Prenatal Conditions
  • Tuberculosis
  • Cerebrovascular Diseases
  • Ischemic Heart Disease
  • Whooping Cough

    • Whilst billions of Naira is spent yearly on reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS and Malaria there is neither focus nor complimentary spending on Respiratory illnesses is poor ambient air quality, and the consensus among experts is that pollutants from exhaust emissions from vehicles and generators are the major contributory factor to poor air quality. When you look at the ten top killer dieseases in Nigeria, poor air quality is a major contributory factor to Number 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

    Emission Control Objective

    The best way to improve ambient air quality is to reduce exhaust emission of pollutants from both mobile (vehicle) and stationery (generator) sources. The objective of an emission control scheme is then to identify poorly maintained polluting vehicles and generators for repair. According to a working paper by the World Bank Clean Air Initiative in Sub - Saharan African Cities between 1998 - 2002, air pollution generated by motorised transport has become an increasing threat in Sub-Saharan towns and cities due to the following factors:

  • Fast growing population
  • High rate of urbanisation(4% to 8%)
  • Low income levels have been an incentive to import older used vehicles, to use cheap two-wheel vehicles, to use cheap fuel and to postpone vehicle maintenance.

    • World Bank Clean Air Initiative

    The World Bank Clean Air Initiative carried out a series of studies between 1998 and 2002 in Dakar, Ouagadougou, Cotonou, Abidjan and Douala. These studies indicate that urban air pollution negatively impacts the economy by 1.8% to 2.7% of GDP.

    If nothing is done, this impact is expected to increase significantly given the effects of population growth, increase in car and generator ownership and vehicular traffic.

    To reduce the harmful effects of exhaust emissions in Nigeria, the United Nations Environment Programme set out an Action Plan for Nigeria in 2002.

    Under this plan the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria should formulate vehicle exhaust emission standards for Nigeria and a programme for its implementation by 2003.