AIR POLLUTION ARISING FROM VEHICULAR EMISSIONS IN LAGOS AND THE NIGER DELTA AREAS IN NIGERIA AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC MEASURES FOR ABATEMENT

AIR POLLUTION ARISING FROM VEHICULAR EMISSIONS IN LAGOS AND THE NIGER DELTA AREAS IN NIGERIA AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC MEASURES FOR ABATEMENT

*Akpomuvire  Mukoro¹ and  Sylvester S. Ogbogu²

¹Department of local Government Studies, Faculty of Administration, 2Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 220005, Osun State, Nigeria.

* Corresponding author. E-mail aumukoro@oauife.edu.ng

Accepted in May 2004.

Abstract

Pollution results from social and industrial activities of man. The dependence on the atmosphere for disposal of industrial and automobile exhaust fumes has made air pollution an important issue in environmental health. This is so because the health hazard posed by air pollution to human population and the quality of the environment in general is quite enormous. Information on air pollution in Nigeria is not extensive but reports available in literature have highlighted the threatening high level of air pollution with particular reference to Lagos and the Niger delta areas. Both areas are characterised by extremely high vehicle density. Consequently, the air pollution levels in both areas have been all-time high due to the substantial amount of automobile emissions. Available data on pollution levels in Lagos and the Niger delta areas were observed to be far in excess of the standards set by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) and World Health Organisation (WHO). Unfortunately little or nothing has been achieved in addressing the problem. Transport control measures and the use of some economic instruments are recommended as strategies in policy formulation to complement the efforts of FMEnv towards air pollution control in Lagos and the Niger delta areas. The invigoration of state environmental protection agencies is also suggested to enhance their effectiveness at local level.

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