Open burning of refuse depletes ozone layer–NESREA

The State Coordinator of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in Kwara, Mr. Martins Enenwaene, says burning refuse in the open depletes the ozone layer.

Enenwaene said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Saturday.

He said the smoke being released into the atmosphere during open burning of refuse damages the ozone layer.

“ If the ozone layer is damaged, the earth will suffer excess heat because it serves as shield between the sun and earth,” he said.

He appealed to Nigerians to refrain from burning refuse in the open in order to protect the atmosphere.

The coordinator said smoke being released from the exhaust of automobiles and factories also contribute to the damage of the ozone layer.

He said individuals and industries guilty of burning refuse in the open constitute ecological risk.

Enenwaene said NESREA was working with the state government to severely punish anyone found guilty of the act.

He, however, appealed to the public to embrace controlled burning of refuse to check ecological hazards.