Millions of people in Nigeria are exposed to air Pollution on a daily basis from vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and biomass burning. This menace has emerged as a major concern that requires immediate intervention given its adverse effects on the environment, biodiversity, and public health. It is a worrying issue in both urban and rural settings. Burning firewood is a major source of air pollution with almost 68.3 percent of Nigerian households frequently using wood for cooking. Emissions from this practice total is estimated to be about 700,000 metric tonnes of PM2.5 and 55 million metric tonnes of CO2 per year.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, firewood smoke causes around 95,300 deaths annually in Nigeria and poses major health hazards, particularly for women and girls who are more susceptible to these conditions. Every year, around 400,000 hectares of trees are lost due to deforestation, which is caused by the need for wood for cooking. Studies revealed that planting trees, promoting clean cooking regulations, transitioning to natural gas, utilizing emission control devices and encouraging urban greening projects are all potential remedies to reduce pollution and increase oxygen production.
Nigeria’s annual mean PM2.5 is higher than WHO recommendation.
In 2019, Nigeria ranked 39th globally with a PM2.5 score of 21.40 micrograms per cubic meter, behind Saudi Arabia and South Africa. The country’s annual mean PM2.5 concentration is 56 micrograms per cubic meter, far more than the WHO’s recommended threshold of 5 micrograms per cubic meter for air quality. Within the African region, Nigeria is ranked 29th out of 47 countries according to the scorecard for air pollution and environmental health. Nigeria has the highest rate of pneumonia mortality among children under five worldwide, accounting for 78% of deaths caused by air pollution.
Based on current data on air quality, Lagos consistently ranks among the most polluted cities, which has serious health consequences for its citizens. In February, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) issued a warning to the public regarding the serious health hazards associated with the present excessive air pollution. Numerous initiatives and teamwork have been launched to fight the menace. One noteworthy intervention is the federal government’s pledge to minimize emissions from burning biomass, especially firewood, which is a major contributor to particulate matter and CO2 emissions.
Plans underway for clean cook policy framework.
By 2030, the government plans to enable 28.8 million households access to cooking gas and provide 7.3 million houses with cookstoves made of biomass, which could possibly reduce air-mortality rates. Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of Environment, gave details about the plan’s involvement in efforts to strengthen the government’s strategy to meet its promised reduction of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP). He asserted that the initiative would improve the lives of the most afflicted women and girls, curb deforestation, generate new jobs, and save thousands of lives annually. It would also promote a domestic clean cooking sector.
However, experts observed that given the Nigerian context, the clean cooking intervention can only be successful if a robust regulatory framework is employed during its implementation process. Furthermore, the government has established a National Implementation Committee to provide a complete framework for a clean cook policy. This is aimed at improving public health, lessen deforestation, increase energy availability, promote environmental sustainability, and encourage investments in the clean cooking industry. Curbing Deforestation and enhancing Nigeria’s overall air quality depend on the effective execution of this policy .
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Enforcing environmental laws and regulations has been made easier by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). It has set air quality guidelines and enforces adherence to lower industrial and vehicle emissions throughout Nigeria. Also, through sustainable mobility solutions, the Transformative mobility Services Design Initiative (TRATSEDI) has been working on projects to reduce air and traffic pollution. Recently, stakeholders gathered for a five-day CLEAN-Air forum in Lagos to discuss air pollution in Africa, including Nigeria. The forum focused on the need for regional cooperation and efficient policies to solve air quality challenges.