Ime Akpan
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said that airport carbon accreditation process for the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos will be completed before the end of the year while the processes for other airports were still ongoing.
The managing director of the agency, Capt. Hamisu Yadudu stated this in his address to commemorate the 2019 World Environment Day held in Lagos on Wednesday with the theme ‘Beat air pollution.’
Yadudu who was represented at the event by the general manager, environment at FAAN, Mrs. Janet Omere, also said the environmental management Studies /environmental audits carried out in all the airports in Nigeria showed that the amount of air pollutants arising from the airport operations were all within the acceptable limits of the World Bank and federal ministries.
“At the Murtala Muhammed Airport, are taking a study of carbon emissions and we found out that there are four levels in reducing carbon emissions.
“We are almost through with the first level which is mapping. We have taken statistics and got data of emission that has to do with electricity, generating sets and all that. We are keying to that at the airport; we have also completed that of Abuja,” he said.
He also announced measures taken to curb air pollution at Nigerian airports.
“In our own part in the airport, we have tried to stop the use of pure water and also to discourage water bottles, plastic containers.
“A lot of things have been put in place to reduce plastic usage at the airports. Within our environment, we are also encouraging paper bags instead of plastic and nylon littering in the whole environment,” he added.
He explained that air pollution is caused by various gaseous pollutants arising from human developmental and industrial activities and disregards for best practices with respect to emissions management.
“The interactions within the natural ecosystem before the industrial revolution of the 17th century was more balanced in its pristine form in giving the human plant and animal kingdoms healthy air sustenance
“However, the case is not the same today. The world ever since the industrial revolution has focused more on meeting the growing needs of the growing human population with little attention paid to the negative impact of the industrial processes involved, particularly on air quality,” he said.
He also said FAAN “has not relented in ensuring that we measure, monitor and manage the amount of emissions arising from airport activities and operations in Nigeria.
This we do by complying with known local environmental management guidelines and regulations and at the same time embracing best practices as reeled out in the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and initiatives by other global aviation bodies such as Air Council International (ACI) on emissions and pollutions management,” said Yadudu.
The managing director also said “FAAN is one of the major stakeholders working with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to develop the state action plan for the implementation of carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international aviation (CORSIA) in Nigeria.”
