Engineers have been urged to take air pollution seriously to enable Nigerians live in a disease-free society.
President, Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr. Tasiu Sa’ad Gadari-Wudil, stated this in a message at the grand finale of the workshop by the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE) in Lagos.
He said air pollution causes damage to the environment, which lead to diseases.
The event organised by the NIEE, in conjunction with the Societal Value of Low-Cost Ur-ban Air Monitoring in Low Resources Environment (SQUARE) project led by the University of Manchester, Centre for Atmosphere Research (CAR), National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and Federal Ministry of Science, technology and Innovation (FMSTI) had as its theme, “A sustainable path to air pollution detection in Lagos”.
Gadari-Wudil, who was represented by Lynda Bitrus Elesa, said the event was critical not only to Lagos, but also other parts of Nigeria.
He said the best way to understand the situation was to rely on the data rolled out by engineers.
NIEE National Chairman, Mr. Sesan Odukoya, noted that Nigeria has a lot of pollution problems.
He therefore tasked Nigerians on the need to pay urgent attention to the issue. “We can’t be healthy when our environment is not clean, adding that this is the cause of many life-threatening diseases and sudden deaths.’’
He advised the government and research institutes to collaborate to mitigate pollution.
In a presentation, Branch Chairman, NSE Manchester, United Kingdom, Dr. Obuks Ejohwomu, said there was a high risk of respiratory complaints in Lagos hospitals caused by poor air. Whereas Akoka has a clean environment, Alausa does not, he said, attributing the probalem to the industries in the area.
Another area where air pollution is prevalent is Osogbo, Osun State capital. He added that there is a relationship between air quality and COVID-19 pandemic.
To reduce air pollution, NASRDA CAR Director, Prof Babatunde Rabiu, urged state governments to acquire sensors, adding that Edo had given a good example by purchasing 10.
Highlight of the event was the challenge section where sensors produced by groups were displayed. The CARNASRDA AQMs made of the staff of the NASRDA won.