The Minister of State for Environment, Ishaq Salako, on Saturday in Abuja, raised concerns over the level of ozone layer depletion in the country.

Mr Salako spoke at the 2023 World Ozone Day celebration themed “Montreal Protocol: fixing the Ozone Layer and Reducing Climate Change”.

The minister, represented by Charles Ikeah, Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health Department in the ministry, said the federal government was committed to phasing out ozone layer-depleting substances.

He noted that the ministry had collaborated with stakeholders to mitigate ozone-depleting substances.

Mr Salako assured that the ministry would soon train technicians on how to handle ozone reduction equipment to totally phase out ozone layer depletion.

He pledged the ministry’s commitment to the Montreal Protocol to ensure a sustainable environment in the country.

The permanent secretary of the ministry, Ibrahim Yusufu, said scientific studies over the years had shown that human activities using some depleting chemicals had led to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Mr Yusufu, represented by Olubunmi Olusanya, a director in the ministry, further noted that public awareness of the need to safeguard the ozone layer for our overall health is pertinent.

“All importers of ozone-depleting chemicals should desist from the importation of such; all technicians and engineers should avoid the use of ozone-depleting substances in their operations and sought alternatives,” he appealed.

The national ozone officer in the ministry, Idris Abdullahi, said the ozone layer was a critical layer that must not be depleted because of the dangers associated with the depletion.

(NAN)