Following the implementation and completion of the Clean Lighting Coalition (CLiC) Support for LED Retrofit Pilot Project at the Lagos State Secretariat Staff Clinic; Folarin Coker Staff Clinic. A press briefing was held at the Ministry of Health Conference Room, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja on the 15th of August 2022. At the briefing culminating the end of the project by Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria) under the aegis of CLiC, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye ably represented by the Director, Medical Administration, Training and Programs in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Olufunmilayo Shokunbi said that the State Government supports the campaign by the Clean Lighting Coalition and SRADeV Nigeria to eliminate exposure to mercury by transitioning to clean lighting usage and phase-out of mercury-based bulbs.

Dr. Ogboye explained further that apart from reducing exposure to mercury at the facility, the retrofitting of over 600 mercury-based compact fluorescent lamps in the staff clinic to 452 LEDs bulbs has helped achieve electricity tariff savings of 50% in lighting usage and enhanced illumination quality. He said: “The retrofit initiative which is basically “transition to LED” is a welcome initiative for the State as it relates to the second pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S developmental agenda and is also aimed at eliminating toxic mercury in lighting through the Minamata Convention on Mercury”.  Dr. Ogboye also noted that the retrofitting project has helped improve employee productivity and reduce maintenance costs due to the longevity and durability of LEDs, adding that the benefits achieved from the project include; the removal of Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) bulbs in the clinic to reduce mercury exposure to staff & patients, transition to LED conforms to environmental standards stipulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the reduction and elimination of mercury-based products and Nigeria’s National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (NREEEP) to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for Nigerians.

The executive director of SRADeV Nigeria, Dr. Leslie Adogame, in his keynote speech commended the Lagos State Government for pioneering the clean lighting retrofit initiative in Nigeria. He stated that SRADeV through Clean Lighting Coalition kicked off the Campaign for energy efficiency and elimination of mercury-laden lamps in Nigeria by implementing the Country-Lighting Market Research in 2021. The research gathered information on policy context to facilitate dialogue with policymakers to support the clean lighting transition.  He added that the biggest advantage of LED lighting is the opportunity for a higher quality lighting experience for people and businesses. Dr. Adogame went further to say the LED retrofit of the Folarin Coker Staff Clinic was successfully implemented using a multistakeholder approach involving relevant MDAs such as the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR), Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB), Lagos State Infrastructure Assets Management Agency (LASIAMA).   

Worthy of note in his speech was that the retrofit contributed to 50% electricity consumption savings from 4,751 kWh per month to 2,393 kWh. The project also contributed to regulatory and environmental health by saving 3,350mg of mercury from 670 units of CFLs and 961,855.75g of Carbon dioxide (CO2) through a reduction in electricity consumption. He concluded by saying that mercury saved from lighting used in the clinic will be recycled in an environmentally safe manner by Hinckley Recycling.

Speaking in the same vein, the Campaign Lead, Clean Lighting Coalition (CLiC), Rachel Kamande via zoom stated that the Clean Lighting Coalition launched the clean lighting market transformation pilots to demonstrate that buildings can easily and cost-effectively replace outdated toxic lighting (CFLs) with energy efficient LEDs within a very short period of time. She explained further that retrofit pilots in hospitals promote the link to sustainable health care delivery, energy savings, toxic chemicals elimination, and climate protection. She added that the findings from the pilot are envisioned to serve as an example that can be used in the transition process as well as motivate countries to establish minimum performance standards.

The media team and representatives from other MDAs who attended the press briefing were then led by the representative of the Directorate of Folarin Coker Staff Clinic; Dr. Sunkami Murtala to the clinic to assess and view the retrofit exercise done in the clinic.

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