Momodou O Njie, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Forestry and the Environment, has said that the government of The Gambia with technical support from the National Environment Agency (NEA), and through close collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), has studied the impact of certain elements on both the physical environment as well as on humans, specially air pollution due to the release of lead from petrol-driven engines. DPS Njie made these remarks yesterday at a massive sensitisation and phase out process of leaded gasoline in the country at the traffic lights along the Kairaba Avenue.

According to Mr Njie, air pollution in many cities in the developing world including The Gambia, is reaching alarming proportions. “Lead, a toxic air- pollutant is extremely harmful to humans, especially children and about eighty percent (80%) of lead pollution in developing countries is attributed to leaded Gasoline (petrol). As a responsible government therefore, we need to safeguard the health of the population and the commitments we have made in international fora.  These include the Earth Summit in 1992, where governments committed themselves to reducing air-pollution from cars and trucks”, he said.

He added that, in 2001, Sub-Saharan African countries signed the Dakar declaration in Dakar, Senegal resolving to phase-out leaded gasoline by December 2005.

This global-partnership he said, was aimed at helping developing countries to reduce vehicular air-pollution through the promotion of cleaner fuels and vehicles specially by eliminating lead and sulphur in fuels.

“Currently 90% of the fuel produced world wide unleaded.  During the past ten years, an increased number of countries have phased out leaded gasoline in a bid to bring-down the airborn levels of lead from the transport sector to zero,” he said.

Bulli Dibba, Director of Administration and Finance at NEA said his office was created to ensure that people live in a safe and clean enviroment. He said “when we talk about the enviroment, we are not talking about things you see. Each and every Gambian should ask him or herself what he can do to make The Gambia a safe and clean place for living.” He added that leaded petrol is not necessary as cars can operate unleaded.

The ceremony was chaired by Adama Cham.