Air Pollution and Climate Change in Lagos, Nigeria: Needs for Proactive Approaches to Risk Management and Adaptation

Abstract

The significance of air pollution as one of the contemporary issues and accelerating factors that propel climate change in both developed and developing countries cannot be overemphasized. The problem of air pollution has seemingly become intractable with the incessant failure of both global and local environmental policies purportedly emplaced to address its devastating trend, particularly in growing megacities of the world. The devastating effects of the phenomenon are more pronounced in megacities of developing countries than in developed ones. Lagos, as an industrialized, commercialized and an emerging megacity in Nigeria, has been subjected to several predictions of the negative impacts of changing climatic conditions partly caused by ubiquitous air pollution. Efforts at stemming the tide of the increasing challenges of air pollution worldwide has significantly been thwarted by inadequate funding, hence the need to review the literature on the environmental implications of growing air pollution, its contributions to climate change and its negative impacts on the lives and properties of teeming inhabitants of Lagos. A review like this will provide a synthesis of knowledge and information on mitigative and adaptive measures that can be adopted to minimize the impacts of air pollution on the mega city.This study utilizes consciously selected and current literatures on the subject matter and found that Lagos inhabitants have been vulnerable to virtually all forms of damaging effects of climate change majorly propelled by seemingly uncontrollable air pollution. This implies that the situation requires proactive measures, otherwise, avoidable loss of lives and large scale destruction of properties may be inevitable. The paper therefore advocates involvement of all stakeholders in both mitigation and adaptation measures to climate change through enhancement of indigenous knowledge and creation of awareness among citizens about the need to be conscious of their carbon foot prints.

Review article: A review and critical analysis of the efforts towards urban flood risk management in the Lagos region of Nigeria

“…The need for sustainable management of solid waste which was emphasized in section 3 of this paper was recommended by Folorunsho and Awosika (2001). Komolafe et al (2014) argued for the adoption of proactive measures to risk management and adaptation whilst constant geophysical and hydrological evaluation of rising groundwater levels was emphasized by Oyedele et al (2009). Adelekan (2013) reiterated the UNISDR recommendation which calls for the participation of the private sector in risk management through investment decision making in building and construction.…”

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring in Metropolitan City of Lagos, Nigeria

“…The city has a tropical climate with an average relative humidity of 79%. Mean monthly temperature ranges from 23 -32 o C. Being located in a coastal area and influenced by strong seabased disturbances, Lagos experiences an average wind speed of 4.3 km/h (Komolafe et al, 2014) …”

“…Air pollution in the urban centre has increased rapidly due to high population density, increased numbers of motor vehicles, use of fuels with poor environmental performance, poorly maintained transportation systems and above all, ineffective environmental regulations and policies (Komolafe et al, 2014). Air pollution is believed to kill more people worldwide than AIDS, malaria, breast cancer, or tuberculosis (WHO, 2014).…”

“…Sources of air pollution include traffic (vehicle exhaust), industrial sectors (from brick making to oil and gas production), power plants and generating sets, cooking and heating with solid fuels (e.g. coal, wood, crop waste), forest fires and open burning of municipal waste and agricultural residues (Akanni, 2010;Komolafe et al, 2014).…”

Urban geology of African megacities

“…A huge and diverse literature exists on emissions from African cityscapes and their effect on global warming and public health (e.g., Diamond and Hodge, 2007;Hunter et al, 2009;Sundal et al, 2009;Rozenzweig et al, 2010;Olowoporoku et al, 2012;Komolafe et al, 2014). In African cities, fossil fuel burning is the major source of greenhouse gases (GHG), specifically, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.…”