Dangers of cooking with firewood

By Joachim Ezeji

In the traditional African society there is struggle for almost everything. There is struggle for basic things such as water, food and even clean air. These things are simply a luxury in most homes. I therefore wonder when our people will be supported to overcome these difficulties and live in harmony with their environment and nature. Accounts of deforestation in Nigeria by scientists show that about 92 percent of the land surface of Nigeria is considered prone to land degradation from moderate to severe stages. Over 350 million tons of topsoil is estimated to be lost each year due to soil erosion. Natural forests, believed to have covered about 40 percent of the country’s land surface some 50 years ago have dwindled to mere 9 percent currently. The estimated 26 million herds of cattle and goats which are mostly grazing beyond carrying capacity have not helped the land reclamation strategies.  More than 37 percent of the country’s forest reserve were lost between 1990 and 2005 as a result of illegal and uncontrolled logging, incessant bush burning, fuel wood gathering and clearing of forests for other land uses hence making the country vulnerable to declining soil productivity, desertification, loss of aquatic life, coastal/soil erosion, biodiversity lose, water and air pollution, drying up of water bodies, erratic flooding causing loss of life and property and diseases.  But those are just a single side of the story. Cooking indoors, on an open fire has been used since the beginning of human civilization. In Nigeria, just as in many other parts of Africa, this simple technology is still the prevailing method for cooking and heating and consists of the use of biomass fuel –including firewood, agricultural residue and animal dung – in traditional open-fire stoves.  In Nigeria, children miss up to 3 days of school per week to gather firewood with 76% of the population depending on firewood for fuel and cooking. The use of wood as fuel for everything from cooking to heating is one of the biggest problems in Nigeria. When wood is burnt it becomes hot and releases gases which account for a large amount of the energy and heat produced. As cooking takes place every day of the year, most people using solid fuels are exposed to levels of small particles many times higher than accepted annual limits for outdoor air pollution. Combustion of solid fuels in open fires or traditional stoves results in very high levels of indoor air pollutants (IAP), principally particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO). It also releases a number of other dangerous chemicals including nitrogen oxides, benzene, butadiene, formaldehyde, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons. These gases and particles lead to respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, asthma, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affecting primarily the women and children. The smoke and indoor pollution arising from these cooking processes were held responsible for over 1.6 million deaths and 2.7% of the global burden of disease. In 2002 across Sub Saharan Africa the death toll due to indoor pollution had risen to 396 000 and with a prediction of over 200 million more people using solid fuel combustion in the developing world by 2030 to provide their energy needs this figure will inevitably rise.  In India alone, about 500,000 premature deaths of women and children are encountered each year due to indoor air pollution. Millions more suffer every day with difficulty in breathing, stinging eyes, and chronic respiratory disease. The WHO estimates that inhaling indoor smoke doubles the risk of pneumonia and other acute infections of the lower respiratory tract among children under five years of age. It has also concluded that women exposed to indoor smoke are three times more likely to suffer from COPD, such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema, than women who cook with electricity, gas or other cleaner fuels.  The World Bank also estimates that about 400 million children and 700 million women are at risk because of exposure to contamination arising from the use of biomass for cooking and heating (GTZ-PAHO/WHO, 2006). Indoor Air Pollution and inefficient household energy practices are additionally posing significant obstacles to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) since the use of solid fuels has many other negative household impacts.  In Nigeria, despite the enormous number of firewood burning for cooking, there are not many studies conducted related to its impact as a driver of Indoor Air Pollution — particularly emphasizing health impacts. The dissemination of information or environmental education of vulnerable groups is not yet adequately undertaken. It is yet to be understood whether this is due to the lack of trained human resources or as a lack of state of the art equipment needed to carry and conduct research.  Furthermore, smoke alleviating technologies or alternate solar powered stoves and ovens are not yet accorded priority in development in any part or region of Nigeria. These interventions need to consider the geographical, climatic, and socio-economic conditions of local populations as well as micro-credit finance to aid their adoption. Nigerian NGOs have a role to play in this regard. There is an urgent need to conduct actual field studies and research to identify which interventions work best in specific local contexts. As such, there is a huge need for environmental health education in this critical area in this era of climatic revulsion.  I therefore challenge government departments especially the environment and public health departments in government, universities and the private sector to rise up to the occasion and save Nigeria’s poor whose health and well being are being shrunk and ruined by excessive exposure to pollution from firewood smokes.

 

 

Climate Change: Need to diffuse proactive Adaptation

There are growing fears that Climate Change presents another manner of external shock to the poor, and one of the ways to cushion the shock is possibly through the diffusion of adaptation measures as a proactive response. This is so because a great many of the poor men and women in urban, rural and peri-urban settings base their livelihoods on ‘informal activities’—–small-scale cropping, livestock rearing, agro-processing and other micro-enterprises.

In many of these activities, an adequate water supply is a crucial enabling resource: used in, or necessary for, the activity itself; freeing time (by reducing time spent collecting water); or as a key element in improved health that in turn enables people to work. Water supplies provided to households therefore have a huge potential to impact on poverty. This is particularly true for the poorest (and for women, who are in majority amongst the poorest).

Peoples’ water needs are typically met through multiple sources- from rainwater to waste-water to piped systems. Rarely do people rely on single sources as single sources tend to be used for multiple purposes. A review that builds on this reality in designing and service delivery to respond to extant exotic realities in the climate system is desired in order to meet peoples’ needs for households’ water supplies. This therefore underscores the fact that the challenges of water availability and water quality are intertwined with the challenges of food security, urbanization and environmental degradation. They stand in the way of poverty reduction and sustainable development.

The growing recognition of the serious gaps that already exist globally in access to safe drinking water and sanitation coupled with the overwhelming threat by climate change has exposed the need for innovative adaptation of appropriate technologies and measures in countries most at need. The adaptation processes need to increase the diffusion of technological innovations to the poor by highlighting how and overcoming the challenges of infrastructure and endemic traditional or cultural practices.

Adaptation actions offer a chance to decrease people’s vulnerability to the vagaries of climate change. This has become necessary because of the appreciation that existing gaps in water and sanitation services are embedded in the grinding realities of extreme poverty in regions with underdeveloped infrastructure, and in settings largely devoid of institutional mechanisms and cultural norms for fostering scalable interventions such as in Africa.

Regrettably discussions of how to address climate change have often focused far more on mitigation (reducing green house gas emissions) than adaptation (coping with the storms, floods, sea-level rise and other impacts that climate change brings). The limited discussions on adaptation have also given little attention to cities. But many cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean are at high risk from climate change- even as they (or the nation in which they are located) have contributed very little to green house gas emissions.

There is every need now to discuss how to manage the impact of climate change on Nigeria’s urban water resources because of Nigeria’s high dependence upon natural resources. This vulnerability relates to many natural and human phenomena; including climate change and variability; pollution, population growth, water scarcity; and knowledge gaps. The development of an adaptation framework for these issues are urgently needed in Nigeria as in other parts of Africa, in order to alleviate the high risks faced by the country’s ecosystems, and to inform and strengthen the coping strategies of poor urban communities who may be less capable of adapting to climate change and other risks.

No doubt, water remains the most vital for human survival. Throughout Nigeria, people are becoming increasingly affected by the degradation of water sources. Disasters from floods, sanitary pollutions and droughts are ruining the lives and livelihood of many, and have recently been closely linked with global climate change. In this context is the fact that despite the critical importance of water resources to Nigeria, there have been very few studies of the effects of global warming or its management especially groundwater resources.

The effects of climate change have already been felt in many parts of the country with the modifications of the intensity and seasonal nature of the rains, the elevation of average annual temperatures, and the increased frequency of widespread, high impact weather phenomena including drought and flooding.

Floods in particular, especially in coastal cities like Lagos and Port Harcourt, and other parts of the country would still remain a major challenge because of the failure of leadership in these cities. Buildings, roads, infrastructure and other paved areas now obstruct natural drainage channels while greed have eclipsed provision for and use of parks and other open spaces as places to safely accommodate flood water from unusually serious storms. The result today is that rainfalls no longer easily infiltrate the soil- hence huge run-off. Worsening the situation is that heavy or prolonged rainfall now rapidly overwhelms most of our cities’ poorly maintained and insufficient drainage systems as those existing are full of silt and clogged with garbage.

As a cross-sectional element, water remains a central part of any vulnerability analyses dealing with climate change. Associated with drought and flood risk, water is a challenge represented by the increasing scarcity of the liquid so essential for human life. There is therefore need for the rational use of water in the broadest sense—including water saving and reuse and the recharging of aquifers etc.

In this context are the traditional problems of decaying water treatment plants and water pipes, insufficient capacity, and poor quality and quantity of water supply; lack of management capacity because of neglecting non-technical factors; weak financial structure and difficulty of new investments, because of high rate of non-revenue water, low water fees which cannot recover the costs, and over staffing, etc that are common in most water utilities in Nigeria.

A typical case is the Lagos State Water Corporation. Here, the water distribution network can only reach one in every three of the 15 million inhabitants of the city. Yet, they projected population growth of 4% per annum of the city means that the city’s water demand, will double by the year 2020. The cost of meeting current and projected demand has been put at around $2.5 billion over the next 20 years.

Generally, cities in Africa are worse hit because they do not only have limited means with which to expand the water, and maintain the quality but they also need to expand water supply services to meet the ever increasing needs of industry and to support growing population with varying distribution of population and settlement patterns in rural and urban settings. The consequence is that as the world remains on track to meeting the 2015 MDG water targets, disparities continue in sub-Saharan Africa which has the lowest coverage and is not on track for the MDG target.

There is therefore the need to cushion the shock by the diffusion of adaptation measures as a proactive response because the failure to act would heighten the risk of severe damage to the economy and other physical, chemical, and biological systems; all with severe negative consequences for Nigerians. This should start with a vulnerability analysis of the impacts of climate change and the putting in place of a viable action plan with efficient adaptation measures in every state of the country.

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Climate Change and Water Supplies in Africa (Part One)

By

Joachim Ezeji

 

As we proceed with the twenty-first century, one-third of the world’s population live in countries with moderate to high water stress. This is particularly so in Africa where development has put additional pressures on water resources and the environment, and these pressures are set to mount further still.

According to the WHO/UNICEF JMP 2008 Report; 87 per cent of the world’s current population uses drinking water from improved sources. Out of this number; 54 per cent uses a piped connection in their dwelling, plot or yard, and 33 per cent uses other improved drinking water sources.

 

This translates into 5.7 billion people worldwide who are now using drinking water from an improved source, an increase of 1.6 billion since 1990. About 3.6 billion people use a piped connection that provides running water in or near their homes.

 

However, estimates for 2006 as reported in this report show that the population reliant on unimproved drinking water sources is below one billion, and now stands at 884 million.  Improved drinking water coverage in sub-Saharan Africa is still considerably lower than in other regions. Nevertheless, it has increased from 49 per cent in 1990 to 58 per cent in 2006, which means that an additional 207 million Africans are now using safe drinking water while 42 per cent are using unsafe or unimproved water sources.

The world is on track to meet

Unimproved drinking water sources according to the JMP include; unprotected dug well, unprotected spring,

cart with small tank/drum, tanker truck, and surface water (river, dam, lake, pond, stream, canal, irrigation channels),and  bottled water etc while other improved drinking water sources include  Public taps or standpipes, tube wells or boreholes, protected dug wells, protected springs and rainwater collection.

The category ‘improved drinking water sources’ includes sources that, by nature of their construction or through active intervention, are protected from outside contamination, particularly faecal matter. These include piped water in a dwelling, plot or yard, and other improved sources.

 

However and beyond all these concerns, are other concerns of Accessibility, Affordability and Sufficiency of water supplies. According to the UNHABITAT as quoted by Alabaster (2008); Accessibility means obtaining water by the households without taking undue proportion of the household’s time (less than one hour a day) for the minimum sufficient quantity of at least 20 liters per person per day. Affordability means water not taking undue proportion of a household’s income i.e. less than 10 percent. Sufficiency means water being available at a quantity of at least 20 liters per person per day.

 

Further to the foregoing, Alabaster (2008) defines a household as having access to improved water sources if it has sufficient amount of water for family use, at an affordable price, available to household members without being subject to excessive physical effort and time. According to Alabaster (2008); access to water decreases when quantity, cost and burden of fetching water is considered.

 

This was corroborated by JMP 2008 report which notes that when drinking water is not available in the home or close to it, the time taken to collect water (that is, to go to the source, stand in line, fill water containers and return home) is critical in determining whether a household can obtain enough water for drinking, food   preparation and personal hygiene.

 

JMP 2008 further underscores that studies have found that if the time spent collecting drinking water is between 3 and 30 minutes, the amount collected is fairly constant and suitable to meet basic needs – defined as between 15 and 25 liters per person per day. However, if the total time taken per round trip exceeds 30 minutes, people tend to collect less water, thus compromising their basic drinking water needs.

 

The JMP 2008 also notes that the MDG indicator does not include a measure for time taken to collect water. However, some argue that, because it is a factor in drinking water use, the time needed to collect water should be considered when determining whether a source is ‘improved’ or not. Data from 35 recent household surveys show that 18 per cent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa relies on an improved drinking water source that is more than 30 minutes away. (JMP; 2008).

 

In addition to managing risks and sustainably adapting to climate change; and if success is to be made in the foregoing scenario, it is germane to also overcome the traditional problems of decaying water treatment plants and water pipes, insufficient capacity, and poor quality and quantity of water supply; lack of management capacity because of neglecting non-technical factors; weak financial structure and difficulty of new investments, because of high rate of non-revenue water, low water fees which cannot recover the costs, and over staffing, etc that are common in most water utilities in Africa.

A typical case is the Lagos State Water Corporation. Here, the water distribution network can only reach one in every three of the 15 million inhabitants of the city. Yet, they projected population growth of 4% per annum of the city means that the city’s water demand, will double by the year 2020. The cost of meeting current and projected demand has been put at around $2.5 billion over the next 20 years.

A World Bank 2003 report had stressed how the abysmal performance of public utilities has come to symbolize the poorest aspects of governance in Nigeria. Using Lagos as a reference the report revealed that being neglected and close to collapse, the publicly run Lagos State Water Corporation holds the dubious distinction of having the highest recorded level of unaccounted-for-water in the world. Only 4 percent of its water production capacity goes towards the creation of revenue.

 

 Unaccounted-for-water is the most common measure of the efficiency of a water company. The World Bank (2003) defines it as “the difference between the quantity of water supplied to a network and the metered water by the customer” It has two components; physical losses due to leakage from pipes; and administrative losses due to illegal connections and under registration of water meters.

 

However, no serious focus seems to have exerted on the existing or potential impact of global climate change on household water supplies and other related issues in Africa. Till this is done critical development needs in this sector may continue to lack behind. This is particularly so for urban areas which will strongly influence the world of the 21^st century because of the rapidity and irreversibility of the urbanization process; UNHABITAT as was quoted by Alabaster (2008).

 

 No doubt, climate change has, for some time now, been generating a lot of debate across the globe. In many parts of the world, including Africa, it is already occurring and future changes are inevitable. These changes, according to experts, could result in economic losses of about 5-20% of global GDP. (AfDB; 2008)

 

 It is estimated that, over the coming decades, the continent may lose between 1-2% of its GDP, with some sectors likely to face greater challenges. It is believed that some African countries face reductions in yields from rain-fed agriculture of up to 50% by 2020. (AfDB; 2008).

 

Many experts around the world believe that Africa is particularly vulnerable, as evidenced by the impact of current climate variability and weather extremes such as floods, droughts and storms which severely affect economic performance, livelihoods and key assets, including natural resources as well as transport and energy infrastructure.

While greenhouse gas emission mitigation is crucial to limit long-term climate change, in the short-to-medium term, adaptation to climate change is the only option to manage the impact of climate change with a view to maximizing development outcomes. In Africa, adaptation to climate change is a development priority and this constitutes the focus of the proposed research as so captioned.

 On the other hand Nigeria’s high dependence upon natural resources makes its people especially those in the oil rich Niger Delta particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. This vulnerability relates to many natural and human phenomena; including climate change and variability; pollution, population growth, water scarcity; and knowledge gaps.

To be continued.

 

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Slok Air International Gambia not Soaring

Slok Air Gambia is not soaring to greater heights if news emanating from far away Gambia is true. News from Gambia indicates that the formal Nigerian registered Airline is having difficulties in its operations and may be at the brink of bankruptcy.

Reports reaching the Daily Observer indicate that Slok Air International, a scheduled passenger airline, is owing its staff at least two months salary, amid fears of financial bankruptcy.

Our reporter who was at the Slok Air headquarters on Kairaba Avenue, met some staff who were grumbling about their unpaid salaries and allowances. Some of them pointed fingers at their superiors in the airline for the prolonged problems.

One of the disgruntled staff accused the management of ignoring their plight, saying that they have been working under difficult circumstances without a pay.>>> READ MORE

It will be recalled that SloK Air was suspended in Nigeria and its operating license was withdrawn in 2004 and it found a new home in the Gambia and have since been making waves.

Whatever, the reasons are we hope the company finds a way out of it present predicaments.

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RESPONSE: Managing Democracy in Nigeria

A Citizen Writes in Response to Managing Democracy in Nigeria

In response to your article managing democracy in Nigeria and by implication Africa. Let me critically evaluate the reasons why we appear to have some challenges with respect to achieving democratic plurality in Nigeria.

I should focus my literature on Nigeria and its perceived influence in Subsaharan Africa. One of the major factors we are confronted with in Nigeria and very much unfortunate is continuance of the post independence state influence in our politics. I would have thought that after so many decades of Independence from the UK, we should have moved our politics beyond the rhetorics of ethnic politics. We have not been able to achieve strong sovereign statehood as a result of what i perceive to be continuos internal and external interferences on the notion of UNITY and a recognition of our Black identity first and foremost.

The concept of democracy is an evolving one within and between different historical epochs in our country Nigeria. From the post indepence politics of the first republic to the current political dispensation. I observe the constraints that may very well be put in place by external environment but at least we should be able to free ourselves and choose the sort of internal policies that are coducive within our own specified territory.

The recent antics of some political actors vis a vis June 12, in my view is not helpful to the debates we are trying to generate in the Nigerian political space. If mistakes were made, I would have thought that the decent thing to do is to offer apology to assuage feelings. Let us not revert back to some of the failures of post independence Nigeria which is our inablitiy to engage all of the citizens of Nigeria in the state building process.

We must refrain from the sort of statements likely to cause resentment and political polarisation. We must abandon politics of ethno-nationalism. It is fraught with complications and pit falls.

We must engage in politics of substance and issues.And of course results. What matters most to people regardless of their political persuassion or ethnic disposation are results.

All other things are unwelcome distractions that are better confined in the dustbin or as we say in Yoruba land ‘Ori atan’.

Julius Oladele

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Managing Democracy in Africa

June 12 memories remains evergreen in the hearts and minds of Nigerian whether democratic by pronouncement, association or in practice as well as amongst the un-democratic in our midst.

So many years after the initial flicker of light into the world of democracy, we are still struggling to consolidate on the gains supposedly accruing from its establishment. We still grope in the the darkness of corruption, mal-administration, nepotism, ethnicity and allied dark practices. Who is to blame?

It may not be the best of time to apportion blames but we should be resilient and ready to learn and accomodate each others views so that we will be united in Managing the mega fortunes that June 12 brought our way in its wake.

Managing democracy in Africa is an uphill task and will remain a mirage unless there is a genuine effort by African leaders to go beyond selfishness and dishonesty to make policies that are people oriented; until then Democracy will remain a Mirage in Many African countries not only in Nigeria. Read more

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