In line with the objective and implementation plan of the Leaded Gasoline Phase-Out project, the National Environment Agency yesterday, 13th September, distributed leaded gasoline phase-out project materials geared towards the sustainable management of the country’s natural resources and the environment.

As the blueprint for the sustainable management of the natural resources and the environment, the Gambia Environment Action Plan (GEAP) adopted by the National Environment Agency in 1992 by and large aim to safeguard the health of the population as well as the environment.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at the Badala Highway-Kairaba Avenue intersection, commonly called Traffic Lights junction, Mr. Momodou O. Njie, deputy Permanent Secretary Department of State for Forestry and the Environment, said that the government in its efforts towards national development, has tried to implement national and global programmes of sustainable growth aimed at improving the basic living standards of the population while protecting the environment.

“As a responsible government therefore, we need to safeguard the health of the population and the commitments we have made in international fora,” Mr. Njie said, adding that the commitments include the earth summit in 1992 when governments committed themselves to reducing air pollution from cars and trucks.
According to Deputy Permanent Secretary Njie, air pollution in many cities in the developing world including the Gambia, is reaching alarming proportions.

“As for us in this country, I would like to take this opportunity to state that the total ban on the importation and selling of leaded petrol in The Gambia has been a thing of the past since it was declared by government on 22nd July 2006,” he added, noting that this is eminent because a lot of public sensitisation has been done.
Mr. Njie further stated that during the past 10 years, an increasing number of countries phased out leaded Gasoline in a bid to bring down the air-borne levels of lead from the transport sector to zero. “Currently, 90% of the fuel produced world-wide is unleaded,” he concluded.

For his part the Director of Finance at NEA, Mr. Bully Mustapha Dibba, said that The Gambia is becoming a centre of tourist attraction with lots of visitors. He therefore challenged all Gambians to ensure that they make The Gambia safe and clean. Mr Adama Cham from the NEA chaired the ceremony.