The Rivers Network of NGOs (RINNGOs), a coaliation of Civil Society Organisations (NGOs) based in Rivers State, has lauched an air quality tracker App and documentary on the importance of clean and quality air.
Chief Operating Officer of the organisation, Dr. Mina Ogbanga, described the event as a key milestone that opens up opportunities for everyone to know about their collective and individual roles in preserving the air and their right in making air quality management the key.
She said, while tracker will help in the tracking of soot issues, the App will give daily status report on the documentary for advocacy, and that the website is a strategic link to accessing the App.
Ogbanga said the situation provides the opportunity for RINNGOs and its partners to join in the global call for the restoration of the earth.
According to her, clean air is not an optional policy objective, it is a fundamental human right.
“Everyone needs to breathe clean air. That billions of people today are breathing dirty deadly air constitutes a global health environmental and human right crisis.
“It was, therefore, not out of place that the launch of the sustainable development goals target 3,9 clearly stated that by 2030, we would substantially reduce the number of death and illness from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination”, she said.
Ogbanga said because of the global health crisis caused by dirty air, “every minute, a child dies of illness caused by air pollution.
“Every minute, 10 adults die prematurely because of dirty air inhaled during their life time”, she stated.
She also noted the economic costs inflicted by poor air quality, adding that air pollution is a human right issue.
“Air pollution, the right to breath clean air, or the right to live in a healthy environment in today’s scale clearly violated the right to life and health, the rights of the child and the right to live in a safe, clean healthy and sustainable environment”, she said.
The Chief Operating Officer noted that as part of the climate action for sustainable and environmental project, RINNGOs is advocating for clean air legislation, establishment of air quality monitoring networks, and quantifying the main sources of air pollution through baseline research.
“The rights perspective changes everything because we collaborate with government to have clear legally enforceable obligations to respect, protect and fulfill human rights”, she concluded.

By: John Bibor & Oribim Ibama