UN 
Across Nigeria, thick plumes of smoke laden with black carbon particles have become an unsettling feature of daily life, raising urgent concerns about public health and environmental sustainability. Visual storyteller Taiwo Aina-Adeokun recently undertook an extensive project from 2025 to 2026, capturing compelling images that reveal the pervasive presence of soot pollution in various regions of the country. This black carbon, a potent pollutant, originates from two main sources: the widespread flaring of crude oil and the traditional methods of food preparation involving wood fires.
Flaring, the combustion of natural gas associated with oil extraction, remains a significant contributor to Nigeria’s air quality challenges. Despite global efforts to curb this practice due to its climate and health impacts, Nigeria continues to grapple with extensive flaring in its oil-producing areas. The resulting emissions not only release carbon dioxide but also generate black carbon particles that settle as soot on nearby communities, exacerbating respiratory illnesses and contributing to environmental degradation.
Simultaneously, Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage involves smoking foods over wood fires, a practice that contributes to localized soot pollution. While culturally significant, these traditional methods emit substantial amounts of black carbon and particulate matter into the air, particularly in densely populated urban and rural settings. This dual-source pollution paints a complex picture of the country’s air quality challenges, intertwining economic activities with cultural traditions.
Black carbon is recognized as a short-lived climate pollutant with a warming impact many times greater than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Its presence in Nigeria underscores the need for integrated policies that address both industrial emissions and household practices. Transitioning to cleaner cooking technologies and enforcing stricter regulations on gas flaring could significantly reduce the health burden and environmental footprint.
Experts stress that tackling soot pollution aligns with multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). As Nigeria seeks to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship, spotlighting these challenges through visual storytelling provides a powerful tool for raising awareness and driving policy change.
Taiwo Aina-Adeokun’s photographic journey not only documents the stark realities faced by affected communities but also invites a broader conversation on sustainable solutions. Addressing soot pollution is imperative for safeguarding public health, preserving cultural heritage responsibly, and mitigating climate change impacts in Nigeria and beyond.
