Groups partner to tackle air pollution in Lagos

An environmental sustainability group, FABE Foundation and the Prudential Zenith Life Assurance, have partnered to tackle air pollution in Lagos State.

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Mrs Temitope Okunnu, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at FABE Foundation, told Newsmen on Friday in Lagos that the partnership was aimed at eradicating air pollution.

“Project Clean Air is aimed at reducing air pollution in Lagos State through the transformation of illegal dump sites into eco-gardens,” Okunnu said.

She noted that air pollution was injurious to human health hence the importance of the project to sensitise Lagos residents on waste segregation.

“As we all know, air pollution and waste management, are issues that affect our health. They impact our health greatly, our environment, and of course the quality of our life.

“In 2021, there was a report from the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, that more than 21,000 people particularly young children died of indoor pollution.

“Now, if people died, about thousands, 21,000 people died as a result of indoor pollution. We can only imagine what the outdoor pollution is actually causing.

“We might not see the effects of air pollution now on your body, but of course it is negatively impacting our bodies.

“So, through the efforts of Project Clean Air, we can transform our environment and protect the health of our families, loved ones, our friends, and of course the future generation,” Okunnu said.

She noted that the partnership through the Project Clean Air was embarked upon to sensitise Lagos residents on the importance of clean air and waste management.

“Through Project Clean air, We are emphasising the importance of clean air, waste management, and how each of us can reduce air pollution in our community.

“We have embarked on the Project Clean Air in collaboration with Prudential Zenith. We are ensuring that everybody knows about the importance of preventing air pollution and its effects in our day to day life.

“Through the Project Clean Air, we will ensure that all the mini-illegal dump sites are eradicated.
“The team will be transforming illegal dump sites across the state into eco-gardens. The eco-gardens will be made possible through the use of the compost we get from the markets’ organic wastes to fertilise the gardens.

“We can now promote such practices to support the work that the Lagos State Government is already doing through LAWMA to prevent air pollution,” FABE boss said.

Also speaking, Mrs Charisse Ige, the Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Prudential Zenith Life Assurance, said the project was part of the company’s sustainability mission.

“And one of our main strategies at Prudential Zenith is that of sustainability. We believe that we all need to be looking at that in order to go ahead, positively and successfully in the future.

“And so, it was a great opportunity when we met the Project Clean Air team at FABE Foundation and through our Sustainability Foundation called Prudence Foundation, we embarked on this project.

“As an organisation, we are passionate about the environment because of this passion we decided to go on Project Clean Air in collaboration with FABE foundation.

“The Project Clean Air, is about us wanting to make sure all illegal dump sites become green spaces so we can enjoy fresh unpolluted air.
“At the end of the day, our aim is to enhance the public health of Lagos residents,” Ige added.

NAN/Wumi