The Honourable Minister of Environment Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal has commissioned a vehicular emissions testing centre in Nasarawa State to enhance clean air for blue skies and a healthier environment.
Balarabe disclosed that the Centre was developed in collaboration with the Nasarawa State government and Bhustan Energy and Environmental Services Limited as part of activities to mark 2025 International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, located in Abacha Central Motor Park, Maraba Nasarawa State, North Central, Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Adam Kambari, who represented the Minister 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.
He added that; “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”.
The Minister stressed that the centre would also support Nigeria’s climate commitments, public health objectives, and the pursuit of sustainable development.
He stated that with 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 it applicable globally.
In her goodwill message, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Margaret Elayo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Hussain Babayayi reaffirms the state’s readiness to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Environment to mitigate air pollution through the Vehicular Emission Testing Centre to improve the quality of air in the state and Nigeria at large.
The Commissioner further stated that the commissioning of the Vehicular Emission Testing Centre Project was a pilot project and Nasarawa State is proud to have it.
Speaking earlier, the Representative of Bhustan Energy and Environmental Services Limited, Mr. Rotimi Olatunji, said that the objective of the Testing centre is to provide real-time data and monitor vehicle emissions in Nigeria.
Rotimi believed that, they are testing CO2 specifically PM2.5, PM10 and black carbon that are actually harmful to human health. So, after the testing, certificates would be generated with QR code for ease of reference.
In her closing remarks, The Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health in the Ministry, Dr Bahjjjahtu Abubakar, explained that the Centre is a collective responsibility and therefore encouraged Nigerians to ensure the safety of the equipment.
Dr. Bahijjatu added that the event was one out of the series of events lineup to mark the 2025 International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
Mrs Omotunde Adeola in her opening address thanked all the guests for honouring the invitation and assured them that the centre would be replicated in other states in no distant time.
In his goodwill message, the Registrar Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), Dr. Yakubu Baba-Mohammed said the introduction of the testing centre would go a long way in helping the reduction of harmful emissions into the environment.
Also part of the activities line-up for the event, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) would be launched by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal at Green Building Conference Hall, Maitama, Abuja on Wednesday 10th September, 2025.
Signed
Ibrahim Haruna
Director, Information
