About 30,000 persons die yearly as a result of pollution in Lagos, the World bank has disclosed.
The Washington-based bank disclosed this in a feature story on its blog, which is titled ‘Making Lagos a Pollution Free City: Solving the threat one solution at a time’.
The Washington blog reports that pollution is a huge problem in many cities across the world with Lagos leading the pack with its large population high concentration of motor vehicles and industrial pollution.
The report further stated that an estimated 20 million people live on an area of less than 100 square kilometres in Lagos, which leads to a suffocating mix of air pollution, single-use plastic pollution and solid waste in the city’s streets causing respiratory problems, floodings and other illnesses among the locals.
On the effect of pollution in Lagos, the lending bank said, “The causes of the pollution are many, and the pollution has many effects on the environment. It is estimated that at least 30,000 people die every year in Lagos due to pollution.”
It added, “Air pollution in 2020 in Lagos was responsible for over 30,000 premature deaths and more than half were infants of less than one year old.”
The bank further warned about the economic costs of exposure to lead aerosol in Ikorodu, which are estimated at an additional $300–$600m or $400–$600 for every resident of that LGA.
In her reaction the Environmental Officer of the General Hospital, Ijede, Mrs Rita Ehinmetan, urged members of the public not to relent in cultivating the habit of cleaning the environment to make it habitable for everyone and future generations.
She emphasised the need to guard and protect the environment jealously for the health and wellbeing of all human beings, plants, and animals.