In an exciting and unprecedented initiative to tackle the deteriorating urban air quality crisis in Nigeria, it is announced that Lagos and Port Harcourt have initiated an impactful project that employs low-cost air sensors and AI.
The project, “PM2.5 Monitoring and Policy Recommendations for Lagos and Port Harcourt Transport Systems Using Low-Cost Sensors and Artificial Intelligence”, will run for 18 months (from February 1st, 2025) and hopes to pioneer air pollution measurement and management for Nigeria, funded by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).
What Is PM2.5 and Why It Matters
PM2.5 are fine particles or particulate matter (PM) that have a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less and is so small, they can penetrate deep into the lungs, and enter the blood. PM2.5 and similar pollutants are among the leading sources of respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease. While they are believed to have harmful impacts on health, Nigeria has had a history of little air quality infrastructure, leading to a dearth of information and a lack of reasonable action by government agencies. This project aims to fill this gap and provide meaningful real-time pollution data.
How the AI-Powered Monitoring System Works
The project will install 15 affordable air sensors 10 in Lagos and 5 in Port Harcourt—on major transport corridors. The sensors will operate continuously for 12 months, measuring air quality, and sending air quality data completely automatically to an artificial intelligence system that analyzes and forecasts pollution trends. If AI can reliably forecast pollution trajectories, leaders and city authorities can proactively develop policies to reduce pollution spikes, instead of developing policy retrospectively after pollution events.
An open-access digital platform will publish real-time air quality data on an open-access platform so the public can see and engage with the real-time data as well as visualize the environmental risks they are at risk at. Researchers, citizens, and policymakers could visualize this data as air quality changes in real-time.
A Model for Smarter, Healthier Cities
Richard Sserunjogi of AirQo, the project’s key partner, emphasized the broader motivation behind combining data science and environmental science. “We want to make this data not just usable, but impactful,” she said. “This is about a catalyst for cleaner and healthier cities across Nigeria.”
Positioned squarely on predictive accuracy, data transparency, and policy relevance, the project provides a powerful case study for the role of AI in transforming public health in developing urban areas.
A New Era for Environmental Monitoring in Nigeria
With climate change and urbanization continuing to exacerbate pollution challenges, this AI-enabled project in Lagos and Port Harcourt provides a model for future environmental governance in Nigeria. By providing real-time monitoring, shifting forecasting, and evidence-based policy, the project takes Nigeria one step closer to a cleaner, healthier future.
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