Towards a pollution-free Lagos

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) plays a crucial role in maintaining the environmental health of Lagos, addressing diverse challenges such as air and noise pollution. Despite significant strides in managing pollution, especially with the expansion of air quality monitors and the launch of the Lagos Carbon Registry, the agency faces persistent issues, particularly in controlling noise pollution, which accounts for the majority of public complaints. The agency’s commitment to sustainable environmental practices is evident in its focus on local research, capacity building and partnerships with academic institutions to develop home-grown solutions for the city’s unique environmental challenges, reports OYEBOLA OWOLABI

 

Nothing compares to breathing clean air, free from any form of pollution. It becomes even better when real-time updates on air quality are available, allowing you to plan your journey through a city, much like weather forecasts. This is the goal the Lagos State government hopes to achieve in the near future. Interestingly, however, it is impossible for air to be 100 per cent clean; there is a permissible threshold for pollutants.

According to Dr. Abiona Odeyemi, a Consultant Pulmonologist at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, it becomes hazardous when this limit is surpassed. He said: “Air pollution means that the air contains things that should not be there, and inhaling them is dangerous to the human system. However, there is a level to which pollutants are allowed in the air because the air cannot be 100 per cent clean. When these pollutants exceed their limit is when there is a problem. Also, studies have linked air pollution to the occurrence of certain diseases like stroke, cataract, and lung infections like pneumonia and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD).”

To prevent these untoward experiences, Dr Odeyemi advocated the use of air quality monitors which help to ascertain the level of pollutants in the air so that appropriate actions can be taken.

He added: “The air quality monitors help to monitor the level of pollutants in the air so that then they exceed their permissible level, those in charge can take actions to reverse the trend.”

In Lagos State, the air quality is generally considered good, but the government is not taking any chances, as there are still areas with poor air quality, according to Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, the General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA). Ajayi explained that the government has invested in air quality monitors to track the air within the city and take appropriate action when necessary. The state has expanded its network of monitors from 20 to 43, strategically placed across the metropolis. Plans are already in place to increase this number to 60 by the end of the year, Ajayi added.

These monitors also help the agency keep up with its weekly release of air quality index on its social media handles so Lagosians are enlightened on what to expect. Ajayi said: “We have doubled the number of air quality monitors to 43 from the initial 20. We are looking to hit 60 by the year end because the Lagos State government is invested in making life easier for residents. This will also put Lagos on the global stage because you begin to get verifiable date on what the air quality is like as you approach the city.

“Air quality is important for many things. People with respiratory problems, say asthma, cannot live in areas with bad air quality because they will have more episodes. And so the government is investing in these things to stem health problems. As the government invests in keeping the environment safe, there is ultimately a reduction in the cost of healthcare.

“Also, the air quality index we release every Monday on our social media handles tells what the air quality is like in different areas. Where it is bad, we trace the source and take appropriate actions. For instance, we found a fishing community in Bariga where women smoke fish for export. The level of smoke was so much and it affected the air quality. We arranged for them to have a smoking kiln that traps smoke and filters it before it goes into the atmosphere, and today that community is better for it.”

Lagos carbon registry and non-smoking law

Another significant initiative by LASEPA is the launch of the Lagos Carbon Registry, which enables the agency to track emissions across various sectors and document carbon footprints. This initiative plays a vital role in contributing to the state’s sustainability index, helping Lagos monitor and manage its environmental impact more effectively.

Ajayi said: “I guess the biggest and most important project we’ve executed is to launch the Lagos carbon registry which puts us the pedestal that enables us to trade carbon globally. It helps us document our carbon footprints, and we’re able to tell how much of greenhouse gas emissions were saving or emitting. It cuts across the transport sector, agricultural sector, industrial sector, even the home in terms of generators and cooking emissions. Measuring emissions and making sure that these things are properly documented for Lagos is a very giant stride.”

Also, the non-smoking law which prohibits smoking in public spaces has just been enacted and enforcement will start soon. According to Ajayi, “We have a strategy, which will be rolled out from November. December is when all these clubs gather for various activities so enforcement will be full force.

“So there are six or seven components of that law that every public building must have. If you have to smoke, you need to go to the designated smoking area. You can’t smoke in public places. You can’t smoke in front of people under 18. You can’t smoke inside closed spaces. Every public building must have a non-smoking sign inside and smoking area outside. You can’t smoke in the bathrooms in public places. We are not doing it alone, but in partnership with the NDLEA, and Lagos Safety Commission, and we’re able to, together, reach all of these places.”

LASEPA’s responsibilities, however, extend beyond air quality issues. Its mandate includes tackling all forms of pollution, including noise and water pollution.

According to Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, approximately 80 per cent of complaints received by LASEPA are related to noise pollution. Among these, religious centres account for the largest share, largely due to the lack of control over the establishment of such facilities under current regulations.

Ajayi also attributed the high levels of noise pollution to human nature, explaining that people are often insensitive to the needs of others, which makes enforcement difficult. He stated: “I think the bottom line is that people are generally poorly behaved when it comes to complying with regulations. One major challenge we face is that after enforcement actions and shutdowns, they may maintain the required standards for four or five months before disregarding them. This forces us to restart the process. The reason we are able to enforce compliance initially is because offenders pay fines and face temporary shutdowns.”

“But after the consequences, some people go back to doing the same thing after four or five months, the next time you seal them the consequence is doubled, but they will still go back. Another challenge is the diversity in range. A lot of them operate in the middle of the night, so it’s difficult to ascertain what went on and how. We will however keep at it and continue to do our best for the good of every resident.”

One of the strategies LASEPA employs is engaging with religious leaders on a quarterly basis to educate them on the harmful effects of noise pollution and the importance of maintaining noise levels below 60 decibels during their services. These regular meetings aim to ensure that religious leaders fully understand the significance of reducing noise levels. In addition, LASEPA conducts frequent media campaigns to raise awareness among the public about the dangers of noise pollution.

“Number three is that when there is a violation, we send the offenders an abatement notice which is a warning. The second one is a pre-sanction and the third is when we seal up the premises. So far, we have sealed about 352 facilities in the last one year, which is a very small percentage considering that we are monitoring over 20,000 businesses/facilities cutting across religious, industrial and even residential apartments.

“We are not trying to shut down businesses, but we just must ensure that people see consequences to bad behaviour.” The General Manager also highlighted that addressing noise pollution occupies up to 90 per cent of the agency’s time, despite it being only about five per cent of LASEPA’s overall mandate. This is because noise pollution affects everyone, making it a widespread issue that requires significant attention and resources.

 

Going forward

Ajayi stated that LASEPA will continue its efforts to ensure the environment remains safe and free from pollution. He emphasised that the agency will focus on investing in locally generated research to develop home-grown solutions to environmental challenges, ensuring that these solutions are tailored to the unique needs of Lagos State.

He said: “Any society that aims to develop must prioritise research and locally generated data that are specific to our environment. So, we are going to place a strong emphasis on research. We have partnerships with all the universities in Lagos, and we will focus on developing local skills within our institutions.

“Instead of purchasing air quality monitors from Germany or China, we plan to develop them locally. We have already started discussions with a department at LASU, and the conversation is progressing. We will also prioritise capacity development for our staff, ensuring they are well-grounded, thorough, and capable of handling any challenges that arise, no matter their origin. We will continue to set high standards and improve as we move forward.”