As Lagos continues to grapple with environmental challenges linked to its rapid urbanisation, residents across the state have raised alarms over worsening air quality caused by waste burning, vehicle emissions, and poor sanitation.
From Ikorodu to Oshodi, and from Sasha to Alagbado, the air is thick with smoke from burning refuse and exhaust fumes from rickety vehicles. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the situation poses serious risks to public health and the environment.
Mrs. Itunu Dada, a civil servant in Ikorodu, said the habit of burning household waste is a major source of air pollution in her area.
“Instead of patronising PSP operators, many residents prefer to burn their waste,” she said. “When you step outside, you see clouds of smoke everywhere. It causes coughing, chest irritation, and an awful smell from refuse dumped along the roads.”
She urged the Lagos State Government to strengthen its waste evacuation efforts and enforce stricter sanitation regulations. “Those evacuating waste from the drainage leave it for weeks. When it rains, the waste flows back, clogging the drains,” Dada added.
In Sasha, Alimosho Local Government Area, Mrs. Stella Lawrence, a teacher, said pollution has become an everyday reality. “The population here is huge. Many commercial vehicles are not roadworthy and emit thick black fumes,” she lamented. “The air is so polluted that you can literally smell the exhaust.”
Experts warn that such air quality degradation could have long-term consequences for Lagos residents, increasing the risk of respiratory infections, asthma, and heart disease. According to environmental advocates, the government must prioritise clean energy adoption, stricter vehicular inspections, and waste recycling initiatives.
Mr. Adebayo Olanrewaju, an environmentalist, said the state’s rapid expansion requires a coordinated urban management plan.
“Lagos cannot continue with open burning and poor waste handling. We need awareness campaigns and sustainable waste collection systems,” he stressed.
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has repeatedly warned against open burning of refuse, but enforcement remains weak. Many residents claim that government officials rarely monitor compliance outside central districts.
As Nigeria’s commercial capital grows, residents fear that without urgent action, Lagos could face an air quality crisis rivaling that of major industrial cities worldwide.
For now, the haze that hangs over its bustling streets remains a daily reminder of an urgent environmental battle still being fought.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
