LASEPA, RDD Associates Empower Women with Smokeless Kilns for Cleaner Fish Smoking in Ilaje-Bariga
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), in collaboration with RDD Associates, has trained 20 women from the Asejere Fish Smoking Women Group on the use of smokeless kilns for fish smoking in the Ago-Egun, Ilaje-Bariga fishing community.
The training, held at Ago-Egun, Ilaje in Bariga Local Council, aims to improve air quality by replacing traditional fish-smoking methods that contribute to air pollution and pose health risks.
Speaking at the event, LASEPA General Manager, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, represented by the Head of Air Quality and Emissions Unit, Mrs. Ayodele Osho, emphasized the agency’s commitment to monitoring and addressing air pollution across Lagos. He noted that air quality sensors deployed in pollution hotspots, including Ago Egun-Ilaje, revealed traditional fish-smoking as a major contributor to hazardous air levels.
“The adoption of smokeless kilns is a strategic intervention to mitigate these effects while sustaining the community’s livelihood,” Ajayi said.
The smokeless kilns feature a three-door structure with 12 layers each, significantly reducing emissions while supporting waste-to-wealth initiatives by converting fish waste into valuable animal feed. The new technology can dry seven to eight cartons of fish at a time, boosting production capacity while minimizing pollution.
Ajayi highlighted LASEPA’s partnership with RDD Associates to engage the community through training and awareness campaigns. He praised the women’s enthusiasm for the initiative, noting that feedback showed a growing understanding of the health risks of traditional smoking methods and a willingness to embrace cleaner alternatives.
Felix Joseph, representing the Baale of Ago Egun-Ilaje, expressed gratitude to LASEPA and RDD Associates, acknowledging the project’s potential to improve living conditions while preserving the community’s traditional livelihoods.
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