Protests against economic hardship kicked off across major cities in Nigeria on Thursday, August 1. From Lagos to Abuja to Port Harcourt to Katsina and Edo, the #EndBadGovernance banners and protests have swept through Africa’s most populous country.
While the demonstrations aimed to address pressing economic issues, they have also resulted in significant environmental pollution with potential health hazards and impact on the populace. This is the clear outcome of the actions of the protesters and the responses by security agencies.
In major cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, the large gatherings have led to considerable waste accumulation, making the environment unsafe for sustainable living.
In many cases, protest venues were left littered with plastic bottles, nylon food wrappers, and other styrofoam debris, highlighting the lack of environmental consciousness among the protesters as well as effective waste management strategies during large public events.
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Also, there were reports of the protesters burning tyres on major roads, thereby further exacerbating the already dire climatic condition with the resulting damage to critical social infrastructures.
It should be noted that the deployment of tear gas by police to disperse crowds also introduces harmful chemicals into the environment. Tear gas canisters leave residues that can contaminate soil and water sources. Environmental scientist, Dr. Grace Onyekachi explains: “The chemicals from tear gas can have lingering effects, contaminating the environment and posing health risks to residents.
“The use of tear gas and the resultant pollution from these protests highlight a critical need for more sustainable practices in managing public demonstrations,” stated Dr. Onyekachi.
“Both the government and the citizens must work together to find solutions that address economic grievances without compromising environmental health,” she added.
Certainly, protesters have to imbibe the culture of protecting the environment by avoiding the burning of tyres and even public and private assets. While protest is a right, violet protest does no good, especially when it involves depletion of the environment and aggravation of pollution.
