As Lagos continues to battle environmental challenges related to its speedy urbanisation, residents throughout the state have raised considerations over its worsening air high quality, largely attributed to indiscriminate waste burning, vehicular emissions, and poor sanitation practices.
They disclosed this in separate interviews with the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
NAN reviews that from Ikorodu to Sasha, and from Oshodi to Alagbado, amongst others, fumes from refuse fires, exhaust pipes, and industrial discharges grasp within the air, posing severe threats to public well being and the atmosphere.
Mrs Itunu Dada, a civil servant and resident of Ikorodu, instructed NAN that air air pollution in her group is essentially brought on by refuse burning.
“As an alternative of patronising the PSP operators, many residents want to burn their waste.
“If you go exterior, you see fumes of smoke from effluents. This causes cough and chest irritation. Across the markets, refuse dumped on the highway median emits offensive odours. It’s appalling,” she mentioned.
Dada referred to as on the Lagos State Authorities to close down markets with poor sanitation and strengthen its waste evacuation efforts.
“These evacuating waste from the drainage go away it for weeks earlier than eradicating it. When it rains, the waste washes again into the drains. This isn’t good.
“There needs to be a activity power to watch unlawful dumping and burning of refuse inside the metropolis,” she mentioned.
In Sasha, a suburb within the Alimosho Native Authorities Space, Mrs Stella Lawrence, a instructor, mentioned air air pollution has turn into an on a regular basis actuality for residents.
“The massive inhabitants of Lagos contributes to it. Many industrial autos will not be roadworthy and emit thick fumes.
“Generator use additionally provides to the issue. The federal government ought to ban unfit autos and make sure the PSPs take away refuse recurrently to discourage waste burning. Offering common electrical energy provide can even assist to scale back generator fumes,” she added.
Equally, Miss Chioma Ndukwe, a communications knowledgeable and resident of Okota, acknowledged that air air pollution has turn into extreme in densely populated areas, reminiscent of Oshodi.
“If you stroll by means of Oshodi Market, you possibly can hardly breathe; emissions from industries, waste burning, visitors fumes and poor sanitation mix to create a choking atmosphere,” she mentioned.
Ndukwe urged the federal government to supply public bathrooms, conduct common automobile emission checks, and regulate industrial discharges.
“We have to take air air pollution significantly. Everybody deserves to breathe clear air in Lagos,” Ndukwe mentioned.
In Lekki, Mr Bruno Ajede, a businessman, acknowledged that whereas the realm is comparatively clear, air pollution persists in crowded elements reminiscent of markets and Ajah.
“Automobile fumes are the primary drawback. Air air pollution impacts human well being and may trigger respiratory points like bronchial asthma,” Ajede mentioned.
Additionally, Mr Ajibola Ajayi, a marketer and resident of Alagbado, mentioned the group suffers from large vehicular air pollution.
“Many autos right here emit heavy smoke as a result of there’s little or no regulation,” Ajayi mentioned.
Reacting to the event, Mr Friday Oku, President, Affiliation of Wastepickers of Lagos, mentioned Nigeria’s continued dependence on fossil gasoline is worsening each environmental and well being hazards.
“There’s quite a lot of hazard related to fossil gasoline use. It’s inflicting severe hurt to the atmosphere and to human well being.
“That’s why we’re working to advertise renewable vitality and discover methods to mitigate air air pollution in our society,” Oku mentioned.
He, nonetheless, criticised what he described as inconsistent authorities insurance policies that undermine emission discount efforts, citing the current ban on waste pickers utilizing carts, identified regionally as “cart pushers,” for example.
“After we try to chop emissions from fossil fuels, the federal government instantly bans cart pushers with out offering any sustainable various.
“How do you ban them and change them with tricycles that trigger much more air pollution? It exhibits an absence of coverage path,” he mentioned.
Oku added that whereas non-public and civil society teams are striving to scale back emissions by means of renewable vitality and cleaner alternate options reminiscent of Compressed Pure Gasoline (CNG), authorities actions typically contradict local weather commitments.
“For us, we’re in opposition to fossil gasoline emissions from autos and markets. We should shift in direction of renewable vitality and CNG. That’s the one option to cut back greenhouse fuel emissions,” he emphasised.
He additionally burdened the necessity for behavioural change amongst Nigerians.
NAN reviews that well being specialists opine that extended publicity to polluted air will increase the chance of respiratory infections, coronary heart illness and lung most cancers.
Nevertheless, the Lagos State Authorities, by means of the Ministry of the Setting and Water Assets, has reiterated its dedication to tackling air air pollution by means of its Blue and Inexperienced Financial system Initiative and Air High quality Monitoring Community.
The state has additionally deployed cellular sensors in strategic places to measure air pollution ranges and implement compliance amongst industries and transport operators.
NAN reviews that residents and environmental advocates argue that till residents cease burning waste and the federal government enforces environmental legal guidelines successfully, Lagos’ quest for clear air might stay elusive.
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