Lagos State dey face two serious environmental and health wahala wey dem just discover. As solar energy dey become popular for Lagos, di waste from solar panels and batteries go soon turn to big environmental problem. At di same time, cancer patients for Nigeria dey share dia painful stories of how di sickness don bankrupt dia families.
For di solar energy matter, experts warn say Lagos go soon face environmental crisis if dem no plan well. Solar panels wey dem dey install for Lekki, Ikeja, Yaba and Victoria Island get lifespan of 20 to 25 years, while batteries last only 3 to 5 years. As more pipo dey use solar power, di waste go increase well well.
Projections show say solar panel e-waste for Nigeria go jump from 3.3 million kilograms for 2021 to 60.3 million kilograms by 2040. If Nigeria scale solar photovoltaic capacity to 30,000 MW, over 280 million batteries go need proper disposal. Di volume of batteries from renewable sector alone fit reach 200 million tonnes by 2040.
Lead-acid batteries wey many pipo still dey use for Nigeria solar installations contain lead wey be dangerous neurotoxin. When dem dispose dis batteries anyhow, dem fit leak into soil and groundwater. Even lithium-ion batteries wey dey common for new installations get materials wey fit contaminate soil and water if dem no handle am well.
Di problem be say Nigeria no get proper laws to manage dis solar waste. No law dey compel solar companies or system owners to ensure say dem recycle panels and batteries well when dem finish dia lifespan. No regulations dey require setting aside money for future decommissioning.
For di health side, cancer patients for Nigeria dey share dia painful experiences. Mrs. Justina Celestine talk about how her daughter Juliet get cancer. Dem first notice leg pain for 2023, and since dat time, dia family don spend close to N10 million for treatment. Juliet dey receive treatment at NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre for radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Anoda patient, Ariema Ogbewe, wey get nasopharyngeal carcinoma, talk about how cancer don affect her education. At 18 years, she don live with di sickness for nearly five years. Her family don spend close to N10 million for her treatment, and her mother don stop work to care for her.
Dr. Nneka Nwobbi, Founder of Children Living With Cancer Foundation, explain say many patients dey present late for treatment. She talk say access to quality cancer care for Nigeria no dey consistent, especially outside major cities. Families dey face long journeys, high accommodation costs, and limited treatment options.
Professor Edamisan Temiye, pediatric haematologist and oncologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, highlight di systemic challenges. He talk say many pipo no understand wetin cancer be and doctors dey misdiagnose am. Stigma dey make matters worse as some pipo dey hide dia condition.
Di cost of cancer treatment dey bankrupt families. Professor Temiye explain say to diagnose cancer alone dey expensive. PET scan cost about N1.5 million, and patients need to do di test multiple times during treatment. He talk say cancer treatment dey push 99 percent of families into poverty.
Nigeria get shortage of cancer specialists and facilities. Dr. Omolola Salako note say for country of over 200 million people, Nigeria get only 100 clinical oncologists trained to diagnose and treat cancer. She talk say fear, ignorance, and systemic failure dey drive preventable crisis for di country.
Di most common cancers for Nigeria include breast cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Women account for over 60 percent of cases and suffer higher death rates. About 40 percent of cancers be preventable through vaccination and screening.
Both environmental problems dey need urgent attention from government and stakeholders. For solar waste, Nigeria need to develop proper recycling systems and regulations. For cancer care, di country need more treatment centres, better health insurance, and early detection programs.
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