Environment Minister, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has said global air pollution causes seven million deaths annually.

The figure is higher than that of malaria and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) combined.

The minister said air pollution was gaining recognition as the leading environmental health risk.

Lawal spoke at the commemoration of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies in Abuja.

He said Nigeria shares this burden as air pollution is linked to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, pneumonia, cataracts, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Lawal said: “The government is promoting clean air pollution through discouraging the importation of old vehicles and encouraging locally manufactured cars, advancing the adoption of alternative fuels such as CNG and LNG.

“They are also supporting the importation of electric vehicles, efficient mass transport systems, rail, and waterways, by prioritizing CNG for its low emissions and affordability, with plans for a gradual transition to hydrogen and electric vehicles.

“The cost of global inaction remains severe, with the devastating impacts on health, ecosystems, and economies.

“In Nigeria, bush burning, vehicular emissions, gas flaring, and venting remain major contributors to pollution with negative effects on both human health and ecosystems.” (The Nation, but headline rejigged)