Nigeria, being one of the famous African countries, welcomes and encourages foreign investors, businesspersons and developers from all around the world. This has made Nigeria one of the countries with the highest industrial activities in Africa. However, the increasing rate of industrial activities has resulted to increase in the air pollution. This report centres on some findings gathered about Nigeria on Air pollution and my perception about this disturbing issue.  

 

From the annual State of the Global Air Report published by the Health Effects Institute (HEI), it is reported that Nigeria is one of the countries in the world with higher than ambient air pollution death rates as a result of poor environmental management coupled with poisonous gas sources like generator fumes, bush burning, and emissions from vehicles etc.

It has also been reported the mortality caused by air pollution in Nigeria were 150 deaths per age-standardized deaths per 100000 people in the year 2016. Though the blame of this can be put on the heavy industrial activities in the country, but this is not so compared to high industrialised countries like China, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, Japan and Canada with record of 117,22,62,21,21,13 and 12 deaths per 100000 people respectively.

The environmental sector of the country is very weak that the environmental reports from international organisations and agencies calls for immediate attention before the situation becomes worse. The industrial activities, at least for now, can never be as high as top manufacturing countries in the world. Yet, these countries still operate within the recommended level. This clearly indicates that there are some considerations and assessment that these countries have made and measures they have put in place to ensure proper environmental management as they still maintain their ranks as top world manufacturing countries.

Therefore, it is suggested that the Federal Government of the Nigeria should begin to invest heavily in the environmental sector of the country. Local experts, environmentalists and environmental engineers should be sent abroad to these countries and be well trained on practices, methods and considerations required to balance industrial activities with environmental protection. On the same vein, an environmental experts’ exchange program among top industrialised-yet-environmentally-friendly countries and Nigeria should be established such that foreign experts can come around to inspect and assess the environmental situation of the country and recommend applicable measures to successfully tackle this disturbing issue of air pollution in Nigeria.

Also, industrial activities in the country should be placed under strict environmental laws and regulations. It is high time concerned agencies and ministries deal with all form compromises and implementation failures. Any (foreign or local) industry or imported device (or machine) that does not operate or function within international standards against any form of pollution, especially air pollution should be shut down and such device banned from use in the country.

With the update that air pollution is the 4th highest cause of human death, and Nigeria being one of the countries dangerously exposed to air pollution, it is very necessary immediate action is made in Nigeria.