The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (ECHON), in partnership with 3DATX Africa, has launched a campaign urging citizens to refrain from purchasing fuel from the black market. This initiative aims to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable practices.
During a vehicular emission testing event held on Thursday in Abuja, Matthew Sulieman, General Manager of 3DATX Africa, emphasized the harmful effects of black market fuel on both vehicles and the environment. He highlighted the importance of sourcing fuel from authorized vendors to prevent vehicle damage and reduce pollution.
“This initiative is a crucial part of our broader strategy to combat greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change,” Sulieman stated. He noted that Nigeria will adopt stringent standards for vehicular emission testing to ensure compliance with environmental requirements.
Sulieman explained, “There’s a lot of sulfur in the fuel. We’ll set a high benchmark for failure in Nigeria. If you fail your test because you used black market fuel, we’ll advise you to refuel at an authorized petrol station and retest. This way, we educate people gradually. Black market fuel is more costly and mixed with additional pollutants, harming the environment. We need to stop buying substandard fuel to prevent environmental pollution.”
Dr. Yakubu Baba, Registrar of EHCON, underscored the importance of this project in monitoring greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria. He announced that EHCON will soon start testing emissions from imported vehicles to assess their environmental impact.
This collaborative effort by ECHON and 3DATX Africa is a step towards reducing Nigeria’s environmental footprint and promoting awareness about the consequences of using substandard fuel.
