A bold new initiative is underway to address the pressing challenge of urban air pollution in Lagos and Port Harcourt, two of Nigeria’s most densely populated and pollution-impacted cities. The development was announced in a statement by the Air Quality Monitoring Research Group (AQMRG) at the University of Lagos, which is serving as the lead institution for the project.
The 18-month project, officially launched on February 1, 2025, combines low-cost sensor technology with artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor and analyze fine particulate matter (PM2.5) along major transport corridors. It is funded by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), known for its global leadership in energy and environmental policy research.
The project—“PM2.5 Monitoring and Policy Recommendations for Lagos and Port Harcourt Transport Systems Using Low-Cost Sensors and Artificial Intelligence”—aims to close longstanding data gaps in Nigeria’s air quality infrastructure and provide a robust, science-based foundation for policy reform.
PM2.5 refers to airborne particles small enough to bypass the body’s natural defenses, entering the lungs and bloodstream and contributing significantly to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. With sparse air quality monitoring systems across the country, this initiative marks a critical step forward in evidence-based environmental health planning.
According to Dr. Rose Alani, Project Lead and Associate Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the University of Lagos, the deployment of real-time monitoring tools is long overdue.
“For too long, policymakers have been forced to make decisions without clear data on pollution from urban transport. Our goal is to change that—starting with Lagos and Port Harcourt.”