*Scores of Lagos residents complain about unwholesome emissions from industries, waste burning, traffic fumes and poor sanitation that combine to create a choking environment, urging the Lagos State Government to provide more public toilets, conduct regular vehicle emission checks, and regulate industrial discharges in order to promote human health in Nigeria鈥檚 commercial hub

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Scores of residents of Lagos have urged the Lagos State Government (LASG) to provide more public toilets, conduct regular vehicle emission checks, and regulate industrial discharges in order to promote human health in the cosmopolitan city and the Nigeria鈥檚 commerce nerve centre.

绿帽献妻 reports Lagos for long has continued to contend with environmental challenges due to its rapid urbanisation.

Lagos residents have also raised concerns over its worsening air quality, largely attributed to indiscriminate waste burning, vehicular emissions, and poor sanitation practices.

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Health experts have also opined that prolonged exposure to polluted air increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease and lung cancer.

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, however, has reiterated its commitment to tackling air pollution through its Blue and Green Economy Initiative and Air Quality Monitoring Network, report said.

The state government has also deployed mobile sensors in strategic locations to measure pollution levels and enforce compliance among industries and transport operators.

Reports indicate that from Ikorodu to Sasha, Oshodi to Alagbado, among other ears in the metropolis, putrid fumes from refuse fires, exhaust pipes and industrial discharges hang in the air, posing serious threats to public health and the environment.

Some Lagosians noted this Sunday, November 2, 2025, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria, in Lagos.

In her remarks on the disturbing development in the state, Mrs. Itunu Dada, a civil servant and resident of Ikorodu, said air pollution in her community is largely caused by refuse burning.

Mrs. Dada stated: 鈥淚nstead of patronising the PSP (Private Sector Participation) operators, many residents prefer to burn their wastes.

鈥淲hen you go outside, you see fumes of smoke from effluents. This causes cough and chest irritation.

鈥淎round the markets, refuse dumped on the road median emits offensive odours. It鈥檚 appalling.鈥�

She, however, urged the Lagos State Government to shut any markets with poor sanitation and strengthen its waste evacuation efforts.

The Lagos resident further said: 鈥淭hose evacuating wastes from the drainage leave them for weeks before removing them. When it rains, the wastes wash back into the drains. This is not good.

鈥淭here should be a task force to monitor illegal dumping and burning of refuse within the metropolis.鈥�

Likewise, at Sasha, a suburb in the Alimosho Local Government Area, Mrs. Stella Lawrence, a teacher, said air pollution had become an everyday reality for residents.

Mrs. Lawrence was quoted to have stated: 鈥淭he huge population of Lagos contributes to it. Many commercial vehicles are not roadworthy and emit thick fumes.

鈥淕enerator use also adds to the problem. The government should ban unfit vehicles and ensure the PSPs remove refuse regularly to discourage waste burning.

鈥淧roviding regular electricity supply will also help to reduce generator fumes.鈥�

Miss Chioma Ndukwe, a communications expert and resident of Okota, in the Isolo area of Lagos State, said air pollution had become severe in densely populated areas like Oshodi.

She noted: 鈥淲hen you walk through Oshodi Market, you can hardly breathe; emissions from industries, waste burning, traffic fumes and poor sanitation combine to create a choking environment.鈥�

Ndukwe urged the government to provide public toilets, conduct regular vehicle emission checks and regulate industrial discharges.

鈥淲e need to take air pollution seriously. Everyone deserves to breathe clean air in Lagos,鈥� she averred.

In highbrow Lekki, Mr. Bruno Ajede, a businessman, acknowledged that while the area is relatively clean, pollution yet persists in crowded parts of the state, such as markets and Ajah.

Ajede stated: 鈥淐ar fumes are the main problem. Air pollution affects human health and can cause respiratory issues like asthma.鈥�

Certain Mr. Ajibola Ajayi, a marketer and resident of Alagbado, said the community suffers from huge vehicular pollution.

Ajayi stated: 鈥淢any vehicles here emit heavy smoke because there鈥檚 little or no regulation.鈥�

Reacting to the development, Mr. Friday Oku, President of the Association of Wastepickers of Lagos, said Nigeria鈥檚 continued dependence on fossil fuel was worsening both environmental and health hazards.

Oku explained: 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of danger associated with fossil fuel use. It鈥檚 causing serious harm to the environment and to human health.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we are working to promote renewable energy and find ways to mitigate air pollution in our society.鈥�

He, however, criticised what he described as inconsistent government policies that undermine emission reduction efforts, citing the recent ban on waste pickers using carts, known locally as 鈥渃art pushers鈥�, as an example.

Oku also stated: 鈥淲hen we are trying to cut emissions from fossil fuels, the government suddenly bans cart pushers without providing any sustainable alternative.

鈥淗ow do you ban them and replace them with tricycles that cause even more pollution? It shows a lack of policy direction.鈥�

According to him, as private and civil society groups are striving to reduce emissions through renewable energy and cleaner alternatives, such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), government actions often contradict climate commitments.

He further said: 鈥淔or us, we are against fossil fuel emissions from vehicles and markets. We must shift towards renewable energy and CNG. That鈥檚 the only way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.鈥�

He also stressed the need for behavioural change among Nigerian consumers.

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