Residents in several parts of Kano State are expressing growing alarm as worsening air pollution fuels a rise in respiratory illnesses, according to a new environmental report by the Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
The ministry’s air quality survey, conducted from May 26 to May 30, identified dangerously polluted air in areas including Gaida, Ja’en, Sabon Titi, and Sharada Market within Kano Municipal and Kumbotso Local Government Areas.
The report warns that residents in these neighborhoods are at heightened risk of health problems due to poor air quality.
“The continued deterioration of air quality could lead to an increase in respiratory and pollution-related illnesses,” the report stated. In response, the ministry said it plans to launch targeted environmental interventions in the affected zones.
The report was made public by Dr. Dahir M. Hashim, the state’s Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, who posted the findings on Facebook.
He emphasized that environmental protection requires a joint effort between government and citizens.
The DAILY POST has independently confirmed the government’s findings, with residents in the affected communities reporting a surge in health issues—particularly persistent coughing and respiratory infections.
In Ja’en, resident Ibrahim Sulaiman blamed nearby industrial activity. “We live close to factories that release strong chemical odors, especially at night,” he said.
“My neighbor has been coughing for two weeks, and now his whole family is sick.”
In Gaida, Shamsu Tijjani, who recently recovered from tuberculosis, echoed similar concerns.
“We may not have tools to measure pollution, but we feel its impact every day,” he said, pointing to overcrowded housing and the loss of open spaces due to unregulated urban development.
The concerns come amid new air quality data from IQAir, which rated Kano’s air as “Moderate” on June 3, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 79.
The main pollutant is PM2.5—fine particles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs—which measured 24.2 µg/m³.
Health experts warn that PM2.5 exposure can lead to serious conditions including asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, and even neurological disorders. Speaking to the DAILY POST, Professor Isa Abubakar, a physician at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, urged residents to limit time outdoors, wear face masks, or relocate if possible.
He stressed the need for systemic change: “Individual precautions are helpful, but lasting solutions require government enforcement of environmental regulations to curb industrial pollution and protect public health.”
Residents are now calling for urgent action from authorities to address the environmental crisis and ensure cleaner air in Kano’s urban areas.