The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has commissioned Air Quality Station to tackle Nigeria’s air pollution rate.

The country’s pollution is said to be at 44.8% making the country the 10th most polluted country in Africa.

During a ceremony held in Abuja, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation, James Sule, emphasized the significance of the event in realizing the ministry’s mandate to implement the National Action Plan on Short-lived Climate Pollutants (NAP-SLCPs).

The plan, approved by the Federal Executive Council in July 2019, identifies 22 specific mitigation actions to reduce black carbon and methane by approximately 80% and 60% respectively.

Sule stated that the Ministry is providing the technological tool to implement the 13th abatement measure under the Waste Management theme in the Plan. This project is one of two projects that will be commissioned in Waste Management as part of the Ministry’s 2022 Capital Projects.

He remarked, “The project, which is the first of its kind by the Ministry, is a valuable technological tool that harnesses the opportunities and potential of environmentally friendly technologies indigenous to Nigeria and Africa, taking into account the unique characteristics of the African continent.

“While air quality systems have been in existence for many years, this innovation by AirQo showcases the ingenuity of our people in solving our own problems in the most appealing ways with an emphasis on global best practices.”

As the champion of this innovation, the permanent secretary also highlighted its role in establishing a highly specialized Air Quality System within the Ministry.

This system will redefine critical prospects for environmental research, environmental justice, and environmental sciences and technology programming that align with the needs and aspirations of the nation.

He pointed out that Nigeria’s air pollution rate of 44.8% makes it the 10th most polluted country in Africa, trailing behind Uganda and Ethiopia. He commended Dr. Peter Ekweozoh, the Director of the Environmental Sciences and Technology Department in the ministry, for identifying and aligning the ministry with this solution.

However, it is concerning that in 2018, reports estimated over 11,200 premature deaths in Nigeria to be directly caused by poor air quality. The World Bank states that 94% of the population in Nigeria is exposed to air pollution levels that exceed WHO guidelines, and the damage caused by air pollution accounts for approximately 1% of the Gross Domestic Product.

Dr. Ekweozoh emphasized the need for this initiative due to the health hazards associated with air pollution in Nigeria. He added, “Air pollution is a significant issue in Nigeria and has remained a recurring problem throughout our history. It is timely to address this challenge head-on with collective efforts. The use of firewood and coal for cooking contributes to the air pollution crisis in Nigeria.”

Source: NNNG