Skip to player
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Search
Connect
Watch fullscreen
Like
Comments
Bookmark
Share
Add to Playlist
Report
Improving air quality in Lagos with citizen science
DW (English)
Follow
5/24/2025
Home to a population of over 20 million, Lagos has an air pollution problem, due to traffic, open fires, industrial emissions and landfills that release toxic gases. A citizen science project helps gather data on air quality.
Category
🗞
News
Transcript
Display full video transcript
00:00
It's six o'clock in the morning in Lagos.
00:05
These early birds are about to run a marathon.
00:08
They're part of a movement called Urban Better Citizens,
00:12
which is active in a number of African cities.
00:15
It integrates physical activity and citizen science,
00:19
promoting youth participation in its push for more sustainable
00:23
and healthier urban environments.
00:25
We'll be going out with this mobile air quality sensor
00:28
and the Urban Better Citizens app to collect air quality data
00:33
and also data about the environment and equally sensitizing people.
00:38
And then along the way, when we are going,
00:40
we use the Urban Better Citizens app from our phone
00:43
to capture what is happening around the environment at that time.
00:47
Lagos struggles with bad air quality, especially during the dry season.
00:52
Gathering data is highly valuable for researchers,
00:56
helping them analyze the extent of the problem.
00:59
The first step in finding solutions.
01:02
Air pollution comes from a number of sources,
01:05
such as cars, open fires or industrial emissions.
01:09
Weather conditions can further influence air quality.
01:13
Air pollution is measured by looking at certain chemical compounds in the air we breathe,
01:18
mostly nitrogen compounds, sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone, and particulate matter or fine dust.
01:26
The marathon runners are helping to create a map of the city's air quality.
01:31
Road traffic and diesel generators are among the major pollution sources.
01:36
The smoking of fish and open stove cooking, such as in this waterfront settlement,
01:41
are further contributing factors.
01:44
Prolonged exposure to a high concentration of these compounds can severely damage the lungs
01:50
and is especially harmful for young and old people.
01:53
Other members of the general public use the Citizens app too,
01:57
uploading information on the urban environment.
02:00
These women have spotted a pile of dumped garbage that has been burnt,
02:04
as the charred remains reveal.
02:07
They logged their observation in the data app.
02:11
A lot could be fixed with better trash management.
02:16
Lagos produces 13,000 tons of waste every day.
02:20
And the city's two major landfills are already full to the brim.
02:25
As the waste breaks down, it releases harmful gases, including methane.
02:32
The Lagos Waste Management Authority is in dire need of ideas and alternatives.
02:39
These are landfills that have been in operation for a decade to two decades,
02:44
and they're full. We have to close them down.
02:46
And in closing them down, we have to introduce circular economy practices,
02:51
sorting waste at source, which is one of the policies of the government.
02:54
And we're actually going to amend the laws to make it mandatory
02:58
that every resident must separate their waste at home.
03:02
In their homes, you must separate your waste into the papers,
03:05
the plastics, the metals, and then the food waste.
03:09
There are plans for waste to energy plants,
03:12
a biogas facility which could fuel buses in Lagos,
03:15
as well as more recovery facilities for recycling waste.
03:19
To build citizen awareness, the Lagos Waste Management Authority, or LOMA,
03:26
sends advocacy officers to markets to inspect, educate, and help with complaints.
03:31
This woman tells them about a problem with waste collection here
03:38
by a private contractor or PSP operator.
03:41
You could see the market woman complaining.
03:47
We give them the LOMA toll-free line for them to freely and easily,
03:51
they can call, it's a toll-free line from an LTE line,
03:54
for them to pass the agribience.
03:56
Then LOMA has PSP coordinators all across.
04:00
Where PSP operators are not doing the needful, we call them to order.
04:04
There has been progress in other areas.
04:08
LOMA introduced new recycling and waste bins in 2022,
04:12
fitted with a chip to track collection.
04:18
Households are required by law to buy the bins and subscribe to weekly pickup,
04:23
but many just cannot afford the $50 containers,
04:27
and not all settlements are reachable.
04:29
In the meantime, the runners have finished their marathon.
04:36
The data they collected on their run reveals heavy pollution in some areas
04:41
where it exceeds critical levels.
04:43
I'm going to go to the graph now.
04:45
So you can see when we started, it was from moderate and then going to red.
04:50
When we got to some point, it came down to yellow.
04:53
The smoke kept coming up between Ilaja and Makoko area.
04:59
You can visibly see it in that place.
05:02
They present the data to the Lagos Environmental Protection Agency
05:06
and discuss ideas to improve the situation.
05:11
Even if progress is slow, awareness of air quality
05:14
is an important step in improving living conditions in Lagos.
05:18
In Lagos.
Recommended
0:51
|
Up next
Delhi air quality remains poor
Hindustan Times
11/7/2018
0:32
Air Pollution Improves In Northeast US During COVID-19 Pandemic
Wochit
4/16/2020
1:12
Air pollution-related deaths: exhaust fumes biggest killer in Europe, finds report
euronews (in English)
6/30/2023
3:06
Scientists demand action on indoor air quality
Australian Community Media
4/1/2024
1:00
Air pollution is killing 1,200 children and teenagers in Europe each year, EEA warns
euronews (in English)
4/24/2023
0:51
City deemed most polluted on Earth amid poor air quality
AccuWeather
11/17/2021
2:20
Hanoi becomes most polluted city, as thick smog engulfs Vietnamese capital
The Manila Times
2/13/2025
1:09
China's Air Pollution Levels Rebound With COVID-19 Lockdowns Lifted
Amaze Lab
5/26/2020
1:00
Are you worried about pollution where you live - and where’s worst for air quality?
National World - LocalTV
5/14/2025
14:45
Delhi Air Pollution: GRAP and Odd-Even Plans Under Scrutiny-What Needs to Change?| WATCH
Oneindia
10/23/2024
1:27
Air pollution
Khaleej Times
3/11/2021
28:49
Delhi's Air Quality Crisis: Who is responsible, Who to blame & more | WATCH
Oneindia
10/31/2024
0:40
Elon Musk's xAI Faces Backlash Over Unpermitted Gas Turbines in Memphis. Environmental Advocates Warn of 'Significant Health and Environmental Impacts'
Benzinga
8/28/2024
0:58
These Places Have The Cleanest Air In America
Buzz60
5/7/2024
13:19
Diwali Pollution| What he Youngsters Think About It| The Measures to Tackle| Oneindia News
Oneindia
11/13/2023
1:50
Air Pollution: How Have Indian Cities Fared?
NDTV Profit
3/23/2022
3:20
Smog engulfs Delhi-NCR Again: IMD Predicts 'Severe' Smog by End of November | Videos Surface
Oneindia
10/29/2024
3:00
Air pollution: New report shows which European cities have the worst air quality
euronews (in English)
12/24/2021
32:47
Stubble burning contributes 90% in Delhi's Air Pollution | Smog a political agenda says Dr. V N Jha
Oneindia
10/22/2024
15:00
Delhi's Smog Emergency: Interview with Senior Advocate Raj Panjwani on Legal Challenges & Solutions
Oneindia
11/1/2024
19:27
Delhi's Air Quality Crisis: Science Behind It, Health Implications, Actionable Solutions & more
Oneindia
10/30/2024
8:01
EU DECODED: Governments may try to delay action on air pollution
euronews (in English)
11/5/2024
11:48
Air pollution has become serious problem for the whole world
ARY NEWS
9/9/2022
0:38
Residents in India React to Severe Levels of Air Pollution
TaiwanPlus News
11/4/2024
1:51
In Pakistan, concerns about worsening air pollution are making EVs an attractive option
euronews (in English)
12/3/2024