WELCOME TO ONITSHA! THE CITY WITH THE WORLDS WORST AIR;


Approaching Okpoko market through thick smog on the back of an okada (motorcycle taxi), the natural reaction is to cover your nose to protect yourself from the dust storm – but the effort is futile.

When a lorry zooms past, kicking up yet another red cloud of dirt, a trader turns the head of a sleeping toddler away from the road, a protective act that is as poignant as it is pointless.

This is a typical day in the southern Nigerian port city of Onitsha – which last year gained notoriety when it was ranked the worst city in the world for the staggering levels of PM10 particulate matter in its air.


Onitsha’s mean annual concentration was recorded at 594 micrograms per cubic metre by the World Health Organization – massively exceeding the WHO’s annual guideline limit for PM10s of 20μg/m3.


PM10 refers to coarse dust particles between 10 and 2.5 micrometres in diameter, while PM2.5s are even finer and more dangerous when inhaled, settling deep in a person’s lungs. Sources of both include dust storms, gases emitted by vehicles, all types of combustion, and industrial activities such as cement manufacturing, construction, mining and smelting. Onitsha scores highly on most of the above – as do other rapidly growing Nigerian cities such as Kaduna, Aba and Umuahia, all of which also featured in the WHO’s 20 worst offenders for PM10s.

In Onitsha’s very busy Okpoko market, my air quality monitor registers 140 for PM10s and 70 for PM2.5s – all way over recommended healthy levels, but still nothing compared to the readings triggered in other parts of this densely populated commercial and industrial hub.




The entire vicinity of the market is perpetually dusty, as wood-sellers saw lumber into different shapes and sizes. The air here is made worse by all the fine sand particles that fly off the back of trucks as they visit one of the many dredging companies on the bank of the River Niger, just behind the wood market.


Some residents of Onitsha are unaware of the dangerous levels of pollution. One female traffic warden has been working in the same spot here for two days. How does she cope with the dust? “I am just doing my job,” she replies reluctantly. “Dust does not kill people.”



But she is mistaken. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep), around 600,000 deaths throughout Africa every year are associated with air pollution, while an October 2016 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) suggested that polluted air could be killing 712,000 people prematurely every year across the continent.


The warden’s attitude towards this invisible but deadly threat is widespread among Onitsha’s residents – but not necessarily because they are nonchalant about their health. Most are simply unaware of the issue.

Some say they have more pressing concerns, such as how to feed their family. Others have simply become accustomed to living in a dirty and polluted environment.


Onitsha is grossly polluted – not just in terms of the air quality, but also the solid waste that litters the streets, blocking drainages and canals. With not a single waste bin in sight, heaps of unregulated rubbish dumps occupy roadsides and street corners. Ikechukwu Obizue, a businessman in the neighbourhood of Nwangene, says residents can only do so much when there is little corresponding effort by the city’s government.


“Onitsha is quite dirty, but the government is not doing anything about it. We do environmental sanitation monthly, but then the city returns to being dirty,” Obizue says. “It is the government’s responsibility to keep the city clean, not the work of the residents – people in this city are too busy hustling to make an income.”


In Nwangene, my air monitor shows 667μg/m3 for PM10s – a reading in excess of the 594 annual figure that gave Onitsha its title of the world’s most polluted city. What’s more, the smaller and even more dangerous particulate (PM2.5) reading of 290 is far in excess of the WHO’s annual figure of 66.The air quality proves just as bad at Ochanja market, with PM10s registered at 586 micrograms and PM2.5s at 266. Yet in these highly polluted areas, few people show any sign of trying to protect themselves from the threat.


There are only a few air masks in sight. A good number of aluminium and copper recyclers are not wearing masks, even while smelting metal scraps. Worse still, most smelting activities are done in the open, releasing monstrous clouds of smoke into the core of the city.


At one of the few state-approved dump sites on Creek Road, Ikechuckwu works at a smelting workshop. He is sweating profusely as he sits on a pile of ash, taking a break from work. He explains he has been smelting iron for a little over five years – but says not to worry about his health.

“I know how to take care of myself,” he brags. “I am not wearing a nose mask because I don’t need it. I take medicine to cater for my health.”


It is hard to determine to what extent these high concentrations of particles are affecting the residents of Onitsha, since there is no official data – but the health effects attributed to sustained exposure to PMs, especially PM2.5s, are well proven.

For a state government that can barely manage its waste disposal system, however, regulating its air quality appears a far-fetched aspiration. The now defunct Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency was widely criticised for failing in its responsibility to effectively tackle environmental pollution, and in its place, the Anambra State Waste Management Agency was created – with little effect.

The state’s Ministry of Environment, Beautification and Ecology did not respond to the Guardian’s questions regarding air pollution in Onitsha. “The major problem is that we don’t take air pollution seriously in Nigeria,” says medical practitioner Dr Nelson Aluya. “As the population increases and we become more industrialised, we ought to have active air-monitoring agencies and a federal environmental protection agency. We say they are there – but are they active?”


In truth, air quality monitoring and control is not on the radar of many African governments. Nigeria has a long list of environmental protection laws and regulations that are barely enforced.

“Even in the healthcare sector,” Aluya continues, “there is no standardised care to monitor those who have chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases resulting from exposure to bad air, and no standard procedure in hospitals to check for oxygen levels.

“So you see, we are in deep trouble. If we have not recognised the fact there’s a problem, then how do we solve it? Unfortunately, people will keep dying as stakeholders remain nonchalant.”





https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/feb/13/polluted-onitsha-nigeria-perpetual-dust-city-world-worst-air



Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44, oam4j!

I can see fegge in those pictures. The entire Onitsha needs to be levelled and rebuilt. That place is just too toxic and dirty for human habitation.

Africonji:
I can see fegge in those pictures. The entire Onitsha needs to be levelled and rebuilt. That place is just too toxic and dirty for human habitation.

So why is that their governor always barking about his achievements like a security dog? This is just terrible!

One would think that because of the economic benefits this place generates for the region they would even value it more!

Are you sure those pictures are not Aba? See more of Aba below. Abia state is dead

Africonji:
I can see Ogbor hill in those pictures. The entire Aba needs to be levelled and rebuilt. That place is just too toxic and dirty for human habitation.

The city with the infamous title of the world's dirtiest!

LasGidiOwner:
Are you sure those pictures are not Aba? See more of Aba below. Abia state is dead

Mr man kindly focus on the threads topic! This is an article from one of earth's most respected news sites, "the u.k guardian"! They have done their research and all these pictures are from in and around onitsha!


If you are pained because it is your state then go and take panadol for it and don't try to cast aspersions on another man's state!

Okada, abeg park here..

#Climbs down, spreads mat, brings out pop corn and zobo...

Oya, let the show begin!

LasGidiOwner:
Are you sure those pictures are not Aba? See more of Aba below. Abia state is dead

You this lying boy. None of those places in those pictures is Aba, and you know it. Besides those places still look way more better than those Onitsha pictures. Onitsha needs to be levelled and rebuilt. Too much dirtiness, pollution, sales of fake drugs and other illegalities are going on there. You chino are a perfect example of what Onitsha can do to a man. See how the place has make you to become a mad man. Just look at your life?

Even a pig wouldnt live in a place like this.

AlhajiSpray:




So why is that their governor always barking about his achievements like a security dog? This is just terrible!

One would think that because of the economic benefits this place generates for the region they would even value it more!

Forget that internet propaganda governor who only makes noise on internet. That is why he will be kicked out of office certainly this year. Anambra pipo are wiser now. Mark my words

So far, it is a fight between Onitsha and Aba. Thank God theyve not mentioned "afonja" or "brown roof" yet.

Heheheh..e pain am.

Now let me tell you frustrated and hopeless midget. Aba is the scum of the earth. The worst place for human to set foot. I dare you prove that all the pictures here are not Aba. Looking at Aba has shown what cluelessness can do to a people. You reason the way you do because of how Aba and Abia state in general has configured you to be. Abia state is dead and it remains so...

[s]

Africonji:

You this lying boy. None of those places in those pictures is Aba, and you know it. Besides those places still look way more better than those Onitsha pictures. Onitsha needs to be levelled and rebuilt. Too much dirtiness, pollution, sales of fake drugs and other illegalities are going on there. You chino are a perfect example of what Onitsha can do to a man. See how the place has make you to become a mad man. Just look at your life?

[/s]

Heheheh..e pain am.

Now let me tell you frustrated and hopeless midget. Aba is the scum of the earth. The worst place for human to set foot. I dare you prove that all the pictures here are not Aba. Looking at Aba has shown what cluelessness can do to a people. You reason the way you do because of how Aba and Abia state in general has configured you to be. Abia state is dead and it remains so...

[s]

Africonji:

You this lying boy. None of those places in those pictures is Aba, and you know it. Besides those places still look way more better than those Onitsha pictures. Onitsha needs to be levelled and rebuilt. Too much dirtiness, pollution, sales of fake drugs and other illegalities are going on there. You chino are a perfect example of what Onitsha can do to a man. See how the place has make you to become a mad man. Just look at your life?

[/s]

Do you even have a governor in Aba? Just look at how terrible your state is....


[s]

Africonji:

Forget that internet propaganda governor who only makes noise on internet. That is why he will be kicked out of office certainly this year. Anambra pipo are wiser now. Mark my words

[/s]

AmericanQuarter:
I think if guardian had visited the city even last year they wouldn't have written this poo.

Reasonable igbo People who are currently living, doing business, working and raising their families in the state as of THIS MORNING are giving their opinion in the report about the sorry state of affairs they are facing in onitsha TODAY And you are here talking about last year?

No wonder they call most of you senseless!

LasGidiOwner:
Do you even have a governor in Aba? Just look at how terrible your state is....


[s][/s]

I don't know why you keep wasting your megabytes showing us random pictures of Onitsha and Awka, claiming they are Aba. Chino when will you receive sense? You have not shown one single prove that those places are in Aba, not one. Go to Aba today and see transformation, real one not internet propaganda. Obiano is still learning work compared to OVI who doesn't make noise while working. Chino you need deliverance.

Nwokem shut up. I don't know how to lie. The pictures are all from Aba. Why are you trying so hard to hide your dead state? There is no need writing Obiano on the same paper with your dead state because you don't even have a governor....


[s]

Africonji:


I don't know why you keep wasting your megabytes showing us random pictures of Onitsha and Awka, claiming they are Aba. Chino when will you receive sense? You have not shown one single prove that those places are in Aba, not one. Go to Aba today and see transformation, real one not internet propaganda. Obiano is still learning work compared to OVI who doesn't make noise while working. Chino you need deliverance.

[/s]

AmericanQuarter:



The report is neither here nor there. Forget the report and pay a personal visit. Onitsha is a mega city!

It seems obiano pays you boys well?

We are not moved by the unfounded report because it sharply contrasts with the reality on ground.

Onitsha..I am still wondering why all these lies are coming just ahead of the election.

AlhajiSpray:



Reasonable igbo People who are currently living, doing business, working and raising their families in the state as of THIS MORNING are giving their opinion in the report about the sorry state of affairs they are facing in Onitsha TODAY And you are here talking about last year?

No wonder they call most of you senseless!

And who are the so called reasonable Igbos? I live in Onitsha and that pix attached is obviously not Onitsha

Air pollution is actually rampant in fast developing cities just like in China, unfortunately it is not regulated by authorities.

This goes to confirm the strength of Onitsha though the state government can do more

Lol, some people live on the media. Onitsha don't care, its booming expanding fast. visit the city and stop living on the internet

Yyeske:
And who are the so called reasonable Igbos? I live in Onitsha and that pix attached is obviously not Onitsha

Kindly read the report AGAIN! Their names, titles and locations are spelled out clearly for everyone to see! Unless you are blind!

See dis guy, u go bring okpoko write about. Am sure dats not okpoko but its d slum of onithsa. In The whole world, Madrid is the only city without a slum.

Pls show me ur state and let's compare beauty.

No need arguing.

AlhajiSpray:



Kindly read the report AGAIN! Their names, titles and locations are spelled out clearly for everyone to see! Unless you are blind!

Onitsha's economic boom is of more important to us than any useless report

The op no dey live for onitsha..

Na why the propaganda failed from the start..

Even fegge and opoko no dirty like that..op need to travel.

Abi na okoroocha wan run Obiano..

ificatchmodeh:
The op no dey live for onitsha..

Na why the propaganda failed from the start..

Even fegge and opoko no dirty like that..op need to travel.

Abi na okoroocha wan run Obiano..

Do I look as if I am the owner of the guardian? Or as if I wrote the report? What the _fuck has where I live got to do with anything? Do you also live in abuja?

Is it that god has blessed you people with senselessness or what? Tufiakwa....

But make we talk true sha, the REAL Onitsha dirty oo.