Law to ban substances damaging Ozone layer underway
THE Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) disclosed that it is preparing a law to phase out and ban by 2010 the use of substances that deplete Ozone layer .
The FEPA's move is in line with the 1985 Vienna Convention on the protection of the Ozone layer, to which Nigeria is a signatory.
The country has also ratified the London, Copenhagen and Montreal amendments to the treaty.
Dr. David Omotosho, National Programme Co-ordinator of the country's Ozone Programme Implementation, spoke to Private Sector stakeholders on the proposed legislation on Tuesday in Lagos.
FEPA, in collaboration with the United Nations International Development Organisation (UNIDO), organised the forum for stakeholders to make inputs into the proposed law.
Omotosho explained that the proposed law was to protect the Ozone layer and control the import, export and use of Ozone depleting substances and matters connected therewith".
Omotosho presented a draft of the law, entitled the "Atmospheric Protection (Ozone Depleting Substances Control) Act 2003".
He noted that chemicals used in refrigeration, fire fighting, metal treatment, fumigation, cosmetics and the pharmaceutical industry destroy the Ozone layer when released into the atmosphere.
Omotosho urged all stakeholders and lawmakers to ensure the urgent passage of the law to save the earth and the people from the harmful effects of Ozone-depleting substances.
In a goodwill message, UNIDO's country representative, Mr. David Tommy, said UNIDO had assisted in reducing the depletion of the Ozone layer by replacing Ozone-depleting technologies with those that were Ozone-friendly.
He added that UNIDO had begun implementing projects to phase out Ozone-depleting substances from aerosol and solvents. Mr Tommy also said that since 1999, UNIDO had spent $6 million, drawn from the Multilateral Fund for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol to replace Ozone-depleting technologies.
The country representatives stressed that the enactment of necessary laws and regulations would assist Nigeria in addressing environmental and trade-related issues, particularly in the productive sector.
