The Federal Government has stated that it will not allow the importation of substandard air conditioners and refrigerators as they strain finances, causing higher energy bills.
This followed after the United Nations reported that Nigerians purchase about one million air conditioners annually.
According to The Punch, Nigeria government has instructed relevant agencies to ensure that substandard cooling appliances do not flood the market and negatively impact the country’s climate.
The Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Adeleke Momara, emphasized the need for stronger enforcement of laws during the National Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop on Energy Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria.
The United Nations Environment Programme revealed that the yearly sale of over one million air conditioners in Nigeria was putting a strain on the finances of Nigerians due to high energy bills.
To combat this issue, the Nigerian government has directed agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service and Standard Organisation of Nigeria to carry out their responsibilities effectively and prevent the influx of low-quality cooling appliances into the country.
They emphasized that the importation of these substandard appliances could be harmful to the climate and environment.
After listening to a presentation by the UNEP Programme Management Officer, Brian Holuj, on the magnitude of pollution caused by the influx of substandard cooling devices imported into Nigeria, Mamora charged the NCS and SON to be alive to their duties.
The Minister said, “I listened to your presentation and certain issues were raised in it. There is the issue of monitoring and enforcement of protocols. Oftentimes, we have beautiful policies and laws, but it is not the beauty of the policy, guideline or law that matters. It is the zeal for implementation that is most important.
“You mentioned this issue of Minimum Energy Performance Standard. What I think is that you have a minimum standard, but if there is no compliance with that, then we cannot get results. And if we must get results, it means the enforcement agencies must be alive to their responsibilities.
“The customs, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, and other relevant agencies need to be alive to their responsibilities and ensure that Nigeria does not become a dumping ground, where you just bring in all sorts of products that are not in line with what we expect by way of standards.”
The purpose of the workshop, as stated by Minister Momara, was to encourage energy efficiency best practices in Nigeria’s cooling sector.
He explained that UNEP officials traveled to Nigeria to support the country in its move towards using more efficient cooling appliances that align with Nigeria’s goal of mitigating climate change challenges.
In his words, “It is a fact that Nigeria is the largest market in Africa, and this also applies to the cooling sector. With the current growing population, combined with improving lifestyle, urbanisation and rising global warming, Nigeria will continue to experience growing demand for air conditioners, refrigerators and other cooling devices.
“Thus becoming one of the fastest growing air conditioner and refrigerators markets in the world. Unfortunately, most of the air conditioners utilised in the country have an energy efficiency ratio below internationally acceptable minimum energy performance standard.”
