By Ajibola Adedoye
A ground breaking project aimed at tackling urban air pollution in Lagos and Port Harcourt is underway, with the deployment of low-cost sensors (LCS) and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) along major transport corridors.
The 18-month initiative, titled “PM2.5 Monitoring and Policy Recommendations for Lagos and Port Harcourt Transport Systems Using Low-Cost Sensors and Artificial Intelligence,” officially commenced on February 1, 2025 and is funded by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).
PM2.5-tiny airborne particles that penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream-is a major contributor to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. With sparse air quality monitoring infrastructure across Nigeria, this project represents a critical intervention to support data-driven environmental health and transport policy.
“This project is designed to fill a long-standing data gap,” said Dr. Rose Alani, Project Lead and Associate Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the University of Lagos.
“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.”