The senior partner of an environmental company – Texas Storm and Engineering, Mr. Emeka Chiakwelu has said that environmental degradation in Anambra State, particularly the moribund air quality and pollution in Onitsha can be averted with a balanced and comprehensive environmental remediation.
Chiakwelu is familiar with the state of affairs in Anambra State and Nigeria, for he is also the founding director of the public policy organization AFRIPOL that advocate and render analysis on the policies for African wellbeing.
Reacting to the news that Onitsha, the major commercial city in Anambra was named the most polluted city in the world, which did not sit well with Chiakwelu.
“Although my ancestral home town is Umuoji in Idemili but Onitsha still holds a soft spot because I was born and raised in Onitsha Ado. My father, Late Chief S. A. Chiakwelu was a pioneer business man in Onitsha since 1936. And Onitsha being a major commercial city needs a better image and public relation to attract 21 century investments.” Chiakwelu said.
He continues, “I have the opportunity to work in the government of Houston, as environmental investigation expert for more than 10 years before I joined the private industry. And I can use my expertise to aid in ameliorating air pollution in Onitsha and remediation of environmental degradation in Anambra State,” he concluded.
Few months ago, UK Guardian reported that “the most polluted city in the world, according to the WHO data, is Onitsha, a fast-growing port and transit city in south-eastern Nigeria that recorded levels of nearly 600 micrograms per cubic metre of PM10s – around 30 times the WHO recommended level of 20 micrograms per cubic metre… the data only includes measurements for particulates and does not include forms of air pollution such as NO2 and ozone. ”
“Particulate matter,” also known as particle pollution or PM, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particle pollution is made up of a number of components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles.
In addition, many parts of Anambra State are littered with erosion gullies. The hard working and effective government of Anambra is working on those problems with limited resources and additional help will be good.