Anyone looking to buy a car has to be aware of the
vehicle emission standards that became mandatory for Nigerian cars in 2012. This
includes foreign imports which must have the approved emission reduction system
or else the cars cannot be imported.Even more strict Euro II standards will
come into effect in 2015 to put firm controls on vehicle emission. The move to
regulate vehicle emissions is the example of common sense becoming a part of
public policy. Nigeria is no longer just a rural country but has major
metropolitan areas in Lagos and Benin among other cities. Excessive vehicle
emission creates air pollution that causes health problems such as asthma and
sleeplessness. Smog is beginning to become a very serious problem in Lagos and car
dealers know that vehicle emission is going to be something that those seeking
to buy new cars in Nigeria will question about.
This is all a consequence of urbanization. Carbon
dioxide emissions in Nigeria have increased significantly in the last 30 years
and the transportation industry bears most of the responsibility. While some
will point out that industry has added to a growing carbon footprint there been
too many studies, particularly one in Abuja, which points to the automobiles on
the road as the primary culprit. Anyone who is been caught in a traffic jam in
the Lagos metropolitan area can attest to the choking fog of emissions coming
out of the tailpipe of thousands of new and fairly used cars. These problems
will not go away by themselves.
Other countries have cracked down on the carbon
dioxide pollution caused by automobiles. Australia in particular has been able
to make significant strides in controlling the level of carbon coming into the
atmosphere. Automobiles are an increasingly common sight everywhere in Nigeria,
and the pollution created by these vehicles can reach beyond the city limits
into the countryside. Putting a control on the auto emissions allows Nigeria to
create an ever smaller carbon footprint that is something that is good both of
the health of Nigerians and the environment as well.
It doesn’t matter if a person owns a car that has
been used or one that is brand-new; it is possible for this person to become
more aware of what is expected regarding vehicle emission. Anyone investigating
car deals on the on the Internet websites or seeking used cars for sale should
be aware of how the car matches up to the emission standards that are in place.
It makes no sense at all to purchase any car that cannot meet those emission
standards, since there are serious consequences involved. Nigeria is a growing
country both economically and in population. Vehicle emission standards are
result of a nation that is becoming more and more urban with each day. The
health of its citizens can be placed at risk by the carbon emissions from
automobiles and the government has correctly intervened to offer protection in
the form of emission guidelines. While there may be a few difficulties in
adjusting to lower auto emissions, long-range benefit is worth any
inconvenience.
The
Congestion Monster Strangling the Highways
Nigerian cars are everywhere to be seen on the roads
and they come in all shapes and models. It is a sign of the growing prosperity
in Nigeria that so many people can now afford to own automobiles.
Unfortunately, this also created a problem that wasn’t there a few decades ago.
Traffic congestion is of epic proportions and anyone looking to buy a car can’t
wait to buy a car in Lagosbut most certainly has some reservations about
braving the slow-moving traffic.
The risk of actions is always there with a mob of
cars on the road, but there other problems equally serious. Slow-moving traffic
creates stress as people will sit in lines for hours. There also is the matter
of fuel being wasted and carbon emissions choking the air, increasing the cases
of respiratory problems. The challenge of navigating heavy traffic is made even
worse by the bad driving habits of other car owners. Limitations on the use of
okadas have only served to reroute traffic and maybe causing other problems
elsewhere. Granted the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2012 is an attempt to
correct the problems but some just don’t seem to be going away. Increased Nigerian
car sales could possibly add to the problem as the best selling cars and even fairly
used carsadd to the already swollen numbers on the road.
The Lagos metropolitan area is expected to expand
daily 25 million people in the next few years that of course will make the
problem that much worse. Doing nothing is not an answer and alternatives
include means of promoting the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. Light rail
technology does require investment and LRT itself is asking for multiyear
concessions for maintenance. Promoting public transportation with more bus
routes and larger buses can also break down the congestion to more manageable
levels. It may even be possible to have specific lanes that would allow better
traffic flow during rush-hour. Any of these alternatives will cost a sizable
amount of money and the public may have some concerns about implementation
which will occur. These are all part of the challenges of having traffic
congestion that is now reached levels that are almost unmanageable.
Nevertheless, Lagos State cannot allow these problems to
continue indefinitely. There are already vehicle emission regulations in effect
and traffic congestion only served to thwart the desired goals of the statutes.
Foreign investment may be needed to help improve the infrastructure of the
highways, and while this may not sit well with some people it may be necessary
to tap into sources of construction assistance from overseas. Bus drivers may
not like having cars in the HV lanes but the short tempers caused by traffic
snarls would be a lot worse. Nigerian automobile transportation is one of the
effects of the surge in urbanized living on that everyone has to become more
comfortable with. There simply is no going back to the simpler days and present
problems must be addressed before they become future catastrophes.
