The Lagos State Government, through its Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), on Friday urged residents to desist from activities that could cause ozone layer depletion.
The General Manager of LASEPA, Dr Dolapo Fasawe, gave the advice in Lagos, at an event organised to commemorate World Ozone Day, with the theme: ”Montreal @ 35, Global Cooperation, protecting life on earth”.
The ozone is a fragile shield of gas that acts as a protective layer which protects the earth from various hazardous gases, and from Ultraviolet rays which are very harmful and dangerous to both the living and non living things.
Fasawe was represented by the agency’s Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, Mr Kayode Bello.
She said that there was the need to collectively work together to achieve the global goal of preventing further depletion of the ozone layer.
Fasawe said that the continual depletion of the ozone could lead to extinct of mankind from the Earth.
The general manager, therefore, urged residents not to relent on their oars, but continue to protect the ozone layer.
She said this was necessary so as to make planet earth habitable for man and nature, and sustainable for the future generations.
Fasawe said that the yearly commemoration of the Ozone Layer Day in Lagos State was evidence that government could not afford to ignore problems confronting the global environment and the threat posed by ozone layer.
”The greenhouse effect, the consequences of destruction of forests, pollution of all forms, climate change and ozone layer depletion – are all problems that preoccupy the government and the people and which must be jointly fought and won,” Fasawe said.
She said that Lagos State consisted of large areas of lowland; vulnerable to a rise in sea level, being an after effect of climate change.
”As we know, the state is generally characterised by low lying area below five metres.
”In view of the above, if adequate and effective measures are not taken, considerable physical, ecological and socio-economic losses would be incurred with the expected rise in sea level and cause flooding in some areas in Lagos.
”In realisation of the above, the Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and progressive partners at the State and Federal level; private and corporate organisations have made efforts in joining this global phasing out of ozone-depleting substances through concerted efforts,” Fasawe said.
She said that some of the measures already put in place by the government include aggressive advocacy of both the informal and formal sectors.
According to her, the advocacy is on the need to preserve nature and comply with environmental guidelines, and ensuring technicians operate in an eco-friendly manner.
She said it also involved enforcing the phasing out of ozone-depleting refrigerants in the state through monitoring of the activities of the technicians of associations like the National Association of Refrigeration and Air Condition Practitioners (NARAP) and; Cooling Part Dealers Association (COPDAS).
The Ozone Day celebration is an international day for the preservation of the ozone layer.
This is in accordance with the United Nations Development Programme mandate and protocol, of which Nigeria is a signatory, and is celebrated annually on the Sept.16.(NAN)