By FABIAN EKERUCHE

Cathedral Church CMS, Agege, Admiralty Way and Lennox Mall have recorded good air quality index, data from the Lagos State Environmental Protect Agency (LASEPA) has shown.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that LASEPA released the Air Quality Index (AQI) report for locations across Lagos on Monday.

The report showed moderate air quality levels at Abiola Gardens and Obafemi Awolowo Way, with index readings of 17.8 and 15.9 respectively.

Other monitored locations recorded good air quality levels.

They include Lennox Mall, Victoria Island (4.3), Admiralty Way (4.0), Agege (3.8) and Cathedral Church CMS (2.8).

However, a clean energy campaigner has commended LASEPA for monitoring and releasing air quality data across the state.

Mr Weyinmi Okotie, the Africa Clean Energy Campaigner at the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, gave the commendation on Monday while reacting to LASEPA’s latest Air Quality Index report.

Okotie said it was important for governments to invest in air monitoring systems and provide regular updates to the public on environmental conditions.

According to him, many Nigerian states do not yet have air quality monitoring facilities capable of providing real-time data to residents.

“We need to commend Lagos for even having air monitors and providing updates on air quality,” he said.

He, however, noted that interpreting air quality results requires understanding the context, methodology and environmental factors involved in the monitoring process.

Okotie explained that air quality readings were usually calculated over a 24-hour period, which could include hours when human activities such as traffic are minimal.

“For example, a location like CMS may experience heavy vehicular movement during the day, but at night activities reduce significantly,” he said.

He added that the placement of monitoring equipment and wind direction could also affect the accuracy of readings recorded by monitoring stations.

According to him, an air monitor located upwind or downwind of pollution sources may capture different levels of pollutants depending on wind movement.

He said the availability of air monitoring systems remained an important first step in improving environmental management and public awareness. (NAN)