From the time the first power plant was established in Nigeria, the power sector suffereth crisis and generators taketh its position by force. The story of power generation in Nigeria is the story of figures and theories which rarely translate to practical reality. Indeed, with every passing day, it is increasingly obvious that when Ronald Reagan made the statement, “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat,” he was referring to the power sector in Nigeria.
Over the years, mass dependence on generators has continued. One major consequence of this proliferation of generators is abused usage. Since there are no active pollutant emission regulations, generators are installed everywhere- in business places, offices and residential buildings. They typically operate inside or directly adjoining residential or office buildings. It is even worse in cluster settlements and urban slums where generators are positioned in corridors, by windows, doors, and vents as a result of a lack of space, causing pollutants to accumulate due to poor circulation of air.
A direct consequence of this abused usage is the threats to the environment and human health. Aside from the noise-induced health hazard, research has revealed that generator fumes are toxic. According to Nigerian researchers at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), generator fumes contribute significantly to the atmospheric level of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the level is dependent on the distance from the point of generation. PAHs are a major component of fuel generator fumes. The carcinogenicity of these compounds has long been established. The implication of this is that the use of generators exposes communities to harmful emissions of greenhouse gases. This, in turn, predisposes one to higher chances of cancer, asthma attack, heart attack, strokes and sudden death.
While some of the effects of this constant exposure to toxic emissions from generators are immediate, some are gradual. For instance, the indirect evidence of the impact of diesel exhaust on lung cancer is indicated by its rising incidence among urban-based nonsmokers less than 60 years old, most of whom use diesel generators on a daily basis.
In conclusion, generators are a blessing and a curse. There is a to sensitize the general public on the proper use of generators so that what was invented for our comfort will not cause our demise.
Sources
American University of Beirut, “Climate Change and Environment in the Arab World program,” Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, 2012.
Chukwuma Muanya, “How generator fumes raise cancer, sudden death risk, others, by experts,” Hope for Nigeria Online, 2015.
M. A Salami, P.O Adeoye, V. Adegboye , “Bronchogenic carcinoma: clinic-pathologic pattern in Nigeria,” Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2010, 28.
Niyi Awofeso, “Generator Diesel Exhaust: a Major Hazard to Health and the Environment in Nigeria,” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol. 183, No. 10, 2011
Egwu Ben Obasi, “Deaths and electricity generator fumes,” The Guardian, 2018.
Featured image source: BBC