Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Who polluted Lagos? THE PUNCH, Wednesday. October 19, 2005 Who polluted Lagos? The inability of the government to protect the people against pollution or respond comprehensively to basic environmental challenges was brought to the fore in Lagos last week. As a strange early morning smog threw several parts of Lagos mainland into panic, environmental and health agencies, including federal and state environment and health ministries, could neither authoritatively explain the source of the pollutant nor demonstrate necessary expertise to ameliorate its adverse consequences. The unusual fog, first noticed around Ojota, Maryland, Oshodi, Anthony Village, Oworonsoki and Yaba areas, later spread to Ikorodu, Victoria Island and Ikoyi, forcing business and social activities to wind down in panic. Though the Lagos State Government immediately ordered all public and private schools to close and advised people in the affected areas to wear gas masks, keep their windows, doors and offices open, the emission caused serious health problems. While the fog caused visibility problem for motorists, residents in the affected areas reported eye irritation, stomach upset and breathing impairment while it lasted. Yet, several days after the incident, a cloud of uncertainty still hangs on the source of the dangerous emission. The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, states that a physical appraisal of the various places visited by his officials found out that the thick fog was as a result of emissions from thousands of heavy vehicles plying Lagos roads; stationary emission arising from industrial stacks, chimneys and power generating sets; as well as air emission from indiscriminate burning of solid waste by residents and organisations. On its part, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA claims its examination of the ambient air at Ojota dumpsite revealed the presence of a higher-than-normal level of phosphorous sulphur(4) oxide. But the Director-General of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, NNRA, Prof. Shamsideen Elegba, has faulted LASEPA’s test procedure. It is the sample of the harmful smog, according to Elegba, that ought to have been tested, not the sample of the air at Ojota dumpsite. Prof. Elegba claims that since the smoke evolved in the Ikeja industrial area and drifted to other parts, it could be suggested that the source of the pollution was in the same industrial area. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has also vehemently denied allegations that the rupture of any of its pipelines at Mosimi caused the smog. Amid this sickening speculation and guesswork is the fact that the various environmental and health agencies were caught napping at a crucial time when their expertise was most needed. At a time when life expectancy of Nigerians is declining rapidly, environmental authorities need to justify their budgetary allocations by discharging their duties more effectively. The attempt by the Lagos State Environment Ministry to trivialize the hazardous emission by linking it with vehicular pollution or waste burning is unacceptable. The questions, therefore, are: Why was a comprehensive test and analysis of the dangerous emission avoided? Why was criminal disposal of industrial waste not considered as a possible cause of the harmful smog? Are there people in government who are paid to protect powerful industrial polluters who poison and installmentally kill Nigerians with their toxic wastes? The public awaits full scientific investigations to isolate the real cause and health implications of the October 12 mysterious fog. Those who are paid by taxpayers to protect the environment must demonstrate that they are competent enough to hold offices by promptly getting to the root of the matter. The competence of any government is measured by its ability to put public interest above the narrow and harmful interests of a few. THE PUNCH, Wednesday. October 19, 2005 12:07:39 AM    comment []