Unabated environmental destruction in Niger

For travelers plying the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, the old tyre depot located around the famous Madalla market is seen as just a place for disposing old tyres, however, for the people living within the vicinity, the seemingly harmless business is a great nightmare that they have been living with in silence.The thick smoke generated which covers […]

For travelers plying the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, the old tyre depot located around the famous Madalla market is seen as just a place for disposing old tyres, however, for the people living within the vicinity, the seemingly harmless business is a great nightmare that they have been living with in silence.
The thick smoke generated which covers the atmosphere in the whole area hours after the tyres are burnt, makes life unbearable for the residents whose houses are located not too far from the burning site.
Findings by Daily Trust after interviewing the residents revealed that the smoke from burning tires deprive them of clean air while the soot settles on almost anything located in the area in black tiny spots which accumulates over time.
When our reporter visited the spot where the tyres were burnt daily located at a raised ground, the placed was scorched black by the constant burning of tires while a pungent smell pervades the air.
The closest residential area called ‘Ebira Quarters’ located close to the incineration site bore the brunt of the tyre burning activities.
According to the residents, apart from visible signs of how the burning affects structures and items by turning them black, it also pollutes the air in the area and leaves a very bad odour.
A resident who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity noted that the development was seriously affecting them.
Although he admitted that he came to the area over a year ago, he has been living with the menace as there is nothing the residents can do about it.
Another resident, Abdulmumin Omeize said he cannot venture out of his house early in the morning because the smell of the smoke from the burnt tyres is very strong then.
“The strong smell affects me a lot. Whenever I come out in the morning I feel like I am chocking. So I always remain indoors until around 10 am,” he said.
He added that the soot also seeps slowly into their rooms which they inhale in their sleep when the tyres are being burnt.
Residents also complained that during the rainy season when they collect rain water, it turns black after some hours in the container because of the soot that settle on their roofs which mingles with water when it rains.
Another resident, Idris Momoh Jimoh, said they have been living with the situation and there was nothing they could do about it.
But he appealed to the authorities to intervene and save them from possible health hazard.
Dr Sylvanus Okpe, a medical doctor and associate professor with the Jos University Teaching Hospital, said that exposure to such burning would eventually result in lung conditions and may even kill.
He said there exist both short and long term implications on those directly involved in the burning and those who come in contact with the smoke as a result of either residing in the area where the burning takes place or inhale the smoke.
“Such exposure usually results in lung conditions which is deadly and the condition is more severe in those who are directly involved in the burning of the tyres while those exposed to the smoke as a result of either living in the area or passing by will not be affected to the same degree as those directly carrying out the burning. But if such exposure is left for a long time, then they all would end up with the same lung condition,” he added.