In a recent report unveiled by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) titled “Climate Landscape Analysis for Children in Nigeria Climate Action Plan for 2023−2027,” it has been revealed that Nigeria hosts three of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) top 10 most polluted cities globally.
The cities of concern, as outlined in the report, are Onitsha (ranking first), Kaduna (ranking fifth), and Aba (ranking sixth). The alarming revelation underscores the severity of air quality challenges faced by these urban centers. The report indicates that each city boasts an average annual particulate matter (PM) of 10, falling within the range of 2.5 to 10 micrometers in diameter, with concentrations exceeding WHO guideline limits by 15 to 30 times, at 20 micrograms/m³.
Umuahia and Owerri are also featured in the report, ranking as the sixteenth and seventieth most polluted cities, respectively, while Kaduna city secures a position within the top 50 for PM 2.5.
The report underscores various sources of air pollution in these regions, including emissions from vehicle exhaust, the petrochemical industry, manufacturing (primarily cement production), energy production (fossil fuel power stations and small/medium private diesel generators), wood fuel burning, and the burning of municipal and industrial solid waste for recycling and disposal.
According to the findings, Lagos State bears a heavy burden, with illnesses and premature deaths attributed to outdoor pollution causing a staggering loss of $2.1 billion in 2018. Tragically, about 11,200 premature deaths occurred, with children under five years of age accounting for 60% of the total fatalities – the highest in West Africa.
The report delves into the concerning impact of poor waste management and unregulated plastic use, exacerbated by Nigeria’s burgeoning population. The improper disposal of plastic and household waste has led to environmental degradation, spreading from villages, towns, and cities into rural and coastal areas. In particular, the Lagos slum area of Makoko faces severe challenges, where municipal waste, largely consisting of plastics, is viewed as a commodity and used for land reclamation in the coastal zone. This practice, coupled with poor solid waste management and sanitation, has created an unprecedented environmental health crisis.
Notably, Nigeria ranks ninth globally for the estimated number of child displacements due to floods, with 650,000 children displaced between 2016 and 2021. The report projects a potentially dire future, with over 3.1 million children at risk of displacement due to riverine floods over the next three decades.
Child protection challenges in Nigeria are intricately linked to increased poverty, displacement, and migration resulting from flooding, drought, and desertification. The worsening poverty situation exacerbates existing child protection concerns and gives rise to new ones, including family separation, child trafficking, abduction, and the exploitation of children in the worst forms of labor. The findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive and effective strategies to address these pressing environmental and social issues in Nigeria.
