The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged industries and individuals to embrace cleaner energy sources to reduce hazardous emissions, prevent pollution-related health risks and promote sustainable economic growth.
The Director, Lagos Operations, SON, Mrs Theresa Ojomo, made the call on Saturday in Lagos during a health walk organised to raise awareness of affordable and clean energy.
Ojomo, who spoke on behalf of the Director-General of SON, Dr Chukwunonso Okeke, said the campaign was designed to encourage the adoption of cleaner and more affordable energy alternatives, including Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and solar power.
She said the growing availability of these energy sources offered opportunities to reduce pollution, protect public health and improve environmental sustainability.
“That is why we are campaigning and creating awareness to let people know that energy is available and clean.
“You can see CNG, solar and other energy sources becoming more available and affordable,” she said.
Ojomo explained that SON was responsible for developing standards, regulating and certifying products and systems, including those related to energy, to ensure compliance with applicable requirements.
She added that switching to cleaner energy could reduce people’s exposure to hazardous emissions and pollutants associated with various health risks.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Director-General on Lagos and South-West Operations, Ms Folasade Aderoju, said the health walk aligned with the organisation’s vision of promoting a healthier environment and supporting sustainable development.
Aderoju said the annual exercise formed part of a global campaign to promote awareness of affordable and clean energy in line with the United Nations’ sustainable development agenda.
She noted that wider access to cleaner energy would improve public health, reduce environmental hazards and contribute to economic growth.
“When clean energy is available to everyone, it will improve public health across industries and reduce substances that have hazardous effects on health,” she said.
Aderoju reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting awareness of clean energy and its benefits to individuals, industries and the wider economy.
Similarly, the State Coordinator, Lagos 2 Office, SON, Mrs Maryrose Ugwueche, said the organisation remained committed to promoting standards that would support the adoption of cleaner energy solutions.
She urged industries to move away from conventional energy sources that contribute to pollution and embrace alternatives that would protect the environment.
Ugwueche said SON had brought companies within the Lagos region together to sensitise them on the importance of complying with standards and adopting cleaner energy technologies.
“We need to ensure that the environment is clean and that industries adopt energy sources that do not pollute the environment,” she said.
A salesperson with Blue World Cosmetic Ltd., Mr Thompson Onuorah, said his organisation prioritised standards and worked with professionals to ensure product quality.
Onuorah described the theme of the health walk as timely, noting the importance of maintaining a healthy environment for all.
The Managing Director of Togas Oil, Mrs Victoria Oke, also said clean energy adoption could improve public health and environmental conditions.
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Oke added that using CNG could help manufacturers reduce operating costs and improve profitability.
She commended SON for raising awareness of clean energy and expressed her organisation’s support for the initiative.
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