Rivers State is rich in culture and tourism. Fishing and Farming are the major occupations of the people in the State. 

Rivers State is very important to the economy of Nigeria because more than 40% of Nigeria’s crude oil and gas output comes from the State. The State is also rich in silica, sand, glass, and some other materials which remain untapped.

From research carried out by the Rivers state Government, the air is saturated with a lot of pollutants from increased levels of illegal refining of stolen crude, decades of gas flaring by oil corporations, burning of tires for roasting meat in abattoirs and during celebrations, and emissions from asphalt plants. (Rivers Govt. Sets up Task Force to Tackle Black Soot, 2017)

Fine particles kill seven million people globally every year, and 50% of pneumonia-related deaths among under-five kids are due to air contamination. The main pollutant in Rivers State is a dangerous one called particulate matter (PM) 2.5. It is the smallest level of fine particles, as tiny as 2.5 micrometers. (Here’s How Activists Are Advocating to End Environmental Pollution in Port Harcourt, 2022)  

Its concentration in the state is 47.6 µg/m³, significantly higher than the 10 µg/m³ the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends. These tiny particles can enter the bloodstream through the lungs by inhalation, the eyes, and through contaminated food and water. Experts say that they can cause heart diseases, strokes, cancers, premature birth, miscarriages, male infertility, and acute respiratory infection 

Air pollution is very high during the dry season because companies increase their productivity and also there is a temperature rise.  Air pollution reduces the yield of crops, thus leading to famine in the long run. It causes extreme heat conditions and haze. It causes acid rain. Ozone layer depletion. There is a decrease in wildlife. There is a very huge surge in health issues. For instance cough, Lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, irritations of the skin, nose, throat, and eyes, etc.

Don't embrace the habit of burning your garbage. Burning your household garbage is dangerous to your health and the environment.  

Planting and caring for trees can reduce Air Pollution. Trees filter pollutants and absorb carbon dioxide. Trees also release oxygen into the atmosphere and provides cool effect in homes.

Smoking is dangerous to the human health and one of the major sources of air pollution. 

The use of crackers during festivals is one of major contributors to air pollution, leading to a layer smog which is very harmful to the health of humans and animals. Let embrace the practice of not using crackers.

Livestock farmers should have an effective system of disposing waste generated in the farms. Scientists have found that animal agriculture is the largest producer of air pollutants at over 50%. Animal waste emit a larger amount of Ammonia which cause pollution in the air, the ground and under ground waters. Animal waste can be used as manure and also in the production of bio gas.