One disturbing trend that is undeniably
gaining a hold on our society today is the increasing cases of people
dying of cancer. It was never like this before. I remember a time in the
not-too-distant past when the word, cancer, as far as Nigerians were
concerned, existed only in the foreign media or in the dictionary. In
fact, it was perceived by many as either a disease of the “oyinbo” or of
the very rich and privileged of the society. But today, even the
poorest of families can count the people they have lost or who are
currently suffering from the traumatic malady. This is why the man in
the street will immediately tell you that the disease is pervading our
society today because of the ever-increasing number of wait-and-take
food and snacks we presently consume — most of them imported. Although
this debatable layman’s diagnosis might not be far from the truth, there
is now one cause of cancer that has been scientifically proved beyond
doubt. This is diesel engine fumes.
Continue reading after the cut...
In June 2012, the International Agency
for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organisation,
classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans, as
sufficient evidence had shown that exposure was associated with an
increased risk for lung cancer. It classified the risk in the Group 1
category. It also noted that there was a positive association (limited
evidence) between diesel exhaust and an increased risk of bladder
cancer. A large population of the world is exposed to diesel exhaust in
everyday life, whether through their occupation or through the air in
the immediate environment. People are exposed not only to motor vehicle
exhaust but also to exhaust from other diesel engines, including from
other modes of transport, like diesel trains and ships, and from
generators. Here in Nigeria, almost every street is “decorated” by
externally stationed giant generators with continuously smoking exhaust
pipes because of epileptic power supply. What is more, diesel-powered
trucks that are never serviced, ply our roads with long trails of black
smoke.
Given the IARC Working Group’s rigorous,
independent assessment of the science of diesel emissions and this
clear and present danger, governments and other decision-makers have a
valuable evidence-base on which to consider environmental standards for
diesel exhaust fumes and to continue to work with the engine and fuel
manufacturers towards those goals. However, we must face the truth that
many developed nations over the past two decades have been researching
on this matter and entrenching regulatory frameworks and actions to
contain the problems in their various countries. North America, Europe
and some countries had successively introduced tighter emission
standards for both diesel and petrol engines, which were also pointed
out as having some carcinogenic components. The sad situation is that
trucks and other vehicles that do not measure up to the new
environmental standards of these foreign nations are quickly shipped to
Nigeria and other developing nations; and considering the population and
demand proclivity of our nation, Nigeria is surely the most targeted
destination for these cancer causing engines.
This is exactly why I find it utterly
unbelievable that a Nigerian could describe the actions of the National
Environmental Standards Regulations Enforcement Agency in clamping down
on errant communications network providers as “anti-developmental”.
When NESREA recently closed down some Base Transceiver Stations in
Plateau State while mandating all operators to ensure that their
facilities complied with laid-down regulations especially site specific
Environmental Impact Assessment certification, some telecoms industry
players quickly urged the Federal Government to caution the agency over
what they described as “disturbance of telecoms industry growth”. The
problem with most of our businessmen is that they focus only on money in
everything they do with a total disregard for the safety of the
environment and by extension, the citizens of this nation. And these bad
eggs are encouraged by the weak government institutions set up to
monitor their activities. In the Western world, any company that puts
financial interest above the people with a sense of impunity runs a high
risk of losing the business in a very short time. Over there, the
people and the environment come first in governmental considerations.
I believe it is high time we woke up to
the reality that there are a lot of toxins out there, invisible yet
active, in the air, in the water and in the things we touch. Granted, it
is in the nature of many to choose survival instead of safety, let us
also remember that the key attribute of human civilisation is planning
for safety and comfort ahead of mere carnal survival. If not, we would
all be as the beasts in the bush – fighting to feed. When the government
was sensitising citizens to the dangers of living under massive
overhead pylons of the national power grid, I wondered why the affected
people would not see the present risks under which they sleep and wake
up every day. Minus the radiation that emanates from these power lines,
the mere hazard of coming and going under high voltage of electricity –
especially during these days of increasing rampages from the effects of
climate change – is enough to make any sane man scurry for safety. A
germane risk is that of situating telecoms masts without regard for the
people living around them. During last year’s rains in Lagos, masts were
falling like pies from the sky during rainstorms. In the Western world,
these masts are well-hidden away from places of high human traffic.
Institutionally speaking, I am
encouraged by the steady progress we are making as a nation in the
matter of environmental regulation. Over the years, the government
institution has evolved from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency
to today’s duo of NESREA and NOSDRA. I am also aware of the soon-to-be
established Environmental Safety Corps, which shall more or less be a
government environmental vigilante group. In view of these, we need more
inter-agency partnerships between these bodies so that the nation will
feel a more concentrated impact. But above this, we need a
public/private sector partnership now more than ever before in order to
drive an innovation-based environment sector in Nigeria, which is now
becoming a critical sector because of the ongoing manifestation of the
adverse effects of climate change, and some other pollution-induced
hazards. It is note-worthy that NESREA has shown remarkable propensity
for adopting this best practice. About two years ago, it publicly called
for private sector players to help establish emissions testing centres
around the country. I hope this process is ongoing, because of the
promise it holds for the nation’s socio-economic polity.
However, now that lung cancer is killing
people that never smoked, our government must wake up to this task of
ensuring the safety of Nigerians. The best way to go is to identify new
strategies which will make the campaign private-sector driven. Like I
always maintain, people are easily amenable to change when they are sure
of the pecuniary benefits in the adoption of a new lifestyle, be it in
the short or long run. According to the advice from specialists
regarding diesel emissions, there is a strong interplay between
standards and technology. Standards drive technology and new technology
enables more stringent standards. For diesel engines, this requires
changes in the fuel such as marked decreases in sulphur content, changes
in engine design to burn diesel fuel more efficiently and reductions in
emissions through exhaust control technology. In Nigeria, a proved fuel
efficiency technology which guarantees less spending on diesel while
safeguarding the health of citizens will be a veritable driving force
for a paradigm shift to a cancer free atmosphere. This is a call to
NESREA to remain strong in its resolve to clean up the long-overdue
dirty Nigerian environment, and to the Nigerian citizens to adopt
sustainable consumer lifestyle in order to ensure that we all leave a
‘legacy of life’ for Nigerians yet unborn. Our future is in our hands.
-Greg Odogwu (gregodogwu@yahoo.com
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