The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has assured Nigerians that the federal government is committed to ensuring cleaner air, healthier lungs, and a safer environment through the commissioning of a vehicular air emission testing centre.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Adam Mahmud Kambari, the minister inaugurated the centre in Maraba, Nasarawa State.

The facility was established under the framework of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and commissioned in commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.

Lawal said, “The commissioning is not just about the usual fanfare of unveiling a structure or a piece of equipment, it is about unveiling hope, noting that air pollution is a silent killer. It affects the quality of life, agricultural output, health and well-being of all citizens. Air contamination does not discriminate, it affects children, the elderly, workers, rich, poor and even unborn generations.

“Through the establishment of this Vehicular Emissions Testing Centre, Nigeria is taking a bold step towards achieving better air quality by regulating vehicle maintenance, emissions and ensuring compliance with environmental standards as is applicable globally.

The Centre will serve as a hub for scientific testing, research, and policy enforcement, ensuring that the quality of air we breathe meets acceptable standards. It will also support our climate commitments, our public health objectives, and our pursuit of sustainable development.

“It is a major causative factor of respiratory problems, heart attacks and strokes and has recently been linked to autism, alzheimer’s, schizophrenia and dementia. Since there is no alternative to air, once you breathe, you are susceptible to and at risk of all diseases peculiar to poor air quality, therefore, it is imperative that we tackle the menace by taking concrete actions before it becomes irredeemable”.

Speaking, the Director Pollution Control, Engr. Bahhijattu Abubakar appreciated the Nassarawa state government for providing the site for the pilot scheme of the program, stating that this will eventually become a nationwide project.

“The technology Module for measuring exhaust emissions for petrol, CNG, LPG, Hydrogen & diesel fuel (CO, COcorre, HC, HCcorre, RHC, NMHC, CO2, O2, NO) and Dilustation factor, Engine Oil Temp, Engine RPM and Lambda Particle Measuring Systems Range 0.1 to 25.0 ?m (PM10 and PM2.5). O2, CO, NO, NO2, SO2, CO2, CxHy, High CO, VOCs and H2S, Black carbon and identification of the cause of emission.”

“This is a digitize and centralize vehicle emission testing across the country starting with Nasarawa State,

Ensuring real-time monitoring and reporting of emission data, by eliminating fraudulent certification practices and manual errors, this will also support government revenue generation and public awareness on environmental sustainability and public health.” (The Nation)