The Nigerian government has commissioned the Vehicular Air Emissions Testing Centre to enhance clean air for blue skies and a healthier environment.
The Centre was developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nasarawa State government and Bhustan Energy and Environmental Services Limited in commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, in Nasarawa State.
Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Mahmud Kambari, encouraged vehicle owners to make use of the opportunity to test their vehicles’ emissions and cultivate the appropriate vehicular maintenance for cleaner air and a healthier environment.
‘’We will be working together to make Nasarawa State a model for Nigeria in this regard with a robust IT applications training program for the Vehicle Inspection Officers to support this initiative,” he said.
The Minister said 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.
He further stressed that the centre will also support Nigeria’s climate commitments, public health objectives, and the pursuit of sustainable development.
‘’Today’s commissioning is not just about the usual fanfare of unveiling a structure or a piece of equipment; it is about unveiling hope. Hope for clean air, cleaner skies, healthier lungs, and a safer environment for all Nigerians. It is a testament to the renewed hope of the current administration and the desire to ensure that all Nigerians have access to clean air.”
“Air pollution is a silent killer. It affects the quality of life, agricultural output, health and well-being of all citizens,” he said.
The Minister added that Nigeria must tackle the menace by taking concrete actions before it becomes irredeemable.
‘’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,” he added.
The Representative of Bhustan Energy and Environmental Services Limited, Mr Rotimi Olatunji, said that the objective of the Testing centre was to provide real-time data and monitoring for vehicle emissions.
“Apart from testing here, we are going to integrate whatever data that we have into this national system such that it’s going to be computerised and the emission rates of vehicles and every other source of emission can be shown transparently in all the offices of the leadership of the ministry,” he said.
According to Mr Olatunji ‘’This centre is a centre that we are proud to establish in support of the state government.”
Also, the Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health in the Ministry, Dr Bahjjatu Abubakar, explained that the Centre is a collective responsibility and encouraged Nigerians to ensure the safety of the equipment.
‘’To everyone who has played a role in making this ceremony successful, we thank you most immensely. This Centre is a collective responsibility of all the people gathered here. It is our project and we must do all we can to ensure the safety of the equipment because it is for our collective good.’’
‘’Today’s ceremony is only one out of the series of events to mark the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. We look forward to hosting you at the launch of the National Clean Air Programme,” she said.
The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Margret Elayo, represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Hussain Babayayi also explained that the state is ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Environment and to fight the pollution through the Vehicular Emission Testing Centre to improve the quality of air quality in the state.
He said the state is also working to provide employment, while also generating more revenue for the state.
He noted that the state it is ready to cooperate with the Federal Government to ensure the projects succeed.
‘’This is the face of the sky, the Commissioning of the Vehicular Emission Testing Centre Project is a pilot project, we in Nasarawa State, we are proud to have it in the state.’’
“This collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Environment and Nasarawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources is a welcome idea. We in Nasarawa State, we are proud to be in this service and it is ready to cooperate with the Federal Government also to ensure the projects succeed. On behalf of the Nassarawa State Government, and my Honorable Commissioner who is absent on official assignments, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources welcomes everyone to this program, especially the Honorable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.” he said.
He explained that the importance of the program cannot be overemphasized to other Nigerians, especially the people of Nasarawa State.
“We want to control the entire population because this program will control the entire population, Protection of the human being, because this pollution is affecting human beings.’’ he stated.
Representative Bhustan Energy and Environmental Services Limited, Mr Rotimi Olatunji, says that the objective of the Testing centre is to provide real-time data and monitoring for vehicle emissions.
“Apart from testing here, we are going to integrate whatever data that we have into this national system such that it’s going to be computerised and the emission rates of vehicle and every other source of emission can be shown transparently in all the offices of the leadership of the ministry,“ he said.
According Mr Olatunji ‘’This centre is a centre that we are proud of to establish in support of the state government, Nasarawa State Government, in its mandate.”
He remarked that Bhustan Energy and Environmental Services Limited, hope to establish this centre across the state as a platform state.
“This is not going to be the only centre in Nasarawa State It’s going to be spread across the state so that vehicles can have easy access to come and test.” what do we test here? We are testing CO2 and we are testing specifically PM2.5, PM10 and black carbon. We already know those are the ones that are actually harmful to our health. So, after the testing, we are going to generate certificates which is going to be attached with a QR code and anybody anywhere can scan the authenticity of the certificate.’’ he said.
The Registrar Environmental Health Council of Nigeria ECHON, Dr Yakubu Baba says the introduction of the testing centre is going a long way in helping reducing the harmful emission into the environment.
He further stressed that, it is going to strengthen, and help reduce the harmful particulate matter in the environment.
“This initiative is also going a big way in determining the national, determining contribution of carbon print of Nigeria.”
“As a regulatory body, we as the council as a regulatory body, our job is to strengthen the practice in Nigeria. And we are pledging our full support to ensure that this centre operates effectively with reverse monitoring and capacity building for environmental health practitioners,“ he added.