Environmental Impact of Commercial Motorcycles in Katsina Metropolis: Implications for Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

The pattern globally nowadays is to reduce environmental pollution by all means as part of sustainable development goals. However, daily increase in the number of commercial motorcycles in Nigeria does not help in achieving this objective. It is for this reason, the present study assessed the environmental impact of commercial motorcycles in Katsina metropolis with special emphasis on air and noise pollution. A structural questionnaire and interviews were formulated, stratified random sampling technique was used in obtaining data. Ten (10) wards were selected from the twelve (12) wards of the local government area from which 150 completed questionnaires were received from randomly selected households. Also, the study used a structured interviews to collect relevant data from fifty (50) households respondents, (5) respondents in each of the ten (10) wards.  Additionally, a noise dosimeter was used to detect noise pollution in five (5) selected locations within Katsina metropolis namely; Katsina central market, Kofar Kwaya round about, Batsari round about, a long Kofar Soro road and Kofar Marusa road. A descriptive analysis and dosimeter readings were used to present the results. The findings revealed that 72% of the respondents reported commercial motorcycles as a source of air pollution and the level of pollution in the area is very high, only 1% of the respondents indicated low air pollution. In terms of noise pollution, 78% of the respondents reported very high noise pollution.  Results of noise dosimeters showed that Katsina central market location recorded 89.7dB (highest), while Kofar Soro road recorded 84.1dB (lowest). The result in central market location is higher than 55dB maximum permissible limit set by NESREA Act, 2007 and closer to 90dB permissible limit set by World Health Organization (WHO). The findings of the study has important implication on environmental sustainability in Nigeria.