BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
At least, 300 students and teachers in the Federal Capital Territory are at risk of contracting lung infection and brain damage over battered solar batteries within the school premises.
The academy, Junior Secondary School (JSS) Gui in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) shares boundary with Sauka community, along the Airport road.
An on-the-spot assessment at the school on Monday revealed that nearly 50 panels were installed in the school due to the absence of electricity in the community.
The school was built in 2019 by Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals OSSAP-SDGs Abuja.
Moved by its negative impact on human health and the environment, the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) led a 20-man investigative panel including the staff and media to inspect the facility.
The Deputy Registrar of EHCON, Dr Andy Ukah confirmed that the emission would likely trigger health risks in the school and the entire community if unchecked.
He said that the incident occured on Thursday March 9, 2023, when the batteries were emitting smoke and gaseous substance while the school was in session.
The coordinator disclosed that the Minister of Environment, Barr Muhammad Abdullahi immediately directed the Registrar of EHCON, Dr Yakubu Baba to investigate the incident upon receiving information on the environmental pollution.
Ukah, who is also the National Coordinator, National Institute of Environmental Health, described the incidence as a public health emergency that required urgent attention.
The Director of Junior Secondary Schools, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) Hajiya Rahmatu Nusa, linked the emission to continuous charging of the batteries without discharging energy.
She noted that as soon as the incident occurred on Thursday, that the batteries were turned off to avoid damages in the school.
Also, Air Quality Monitoring Consultant, EHCON, Dr Fatima Mohammed stated that a good Samaritan reported the incident on Friday, adding that EHCON immediately swung into action and discovered that the entire surrounding was filled with rotten smell.
Given her knowledge of air quality assurance, Mohammed hinted that the batteries were emitting hydrogen sulphur dioxide, adding that it would take up to 48 days to clear from the environment.
She lamented that the facility is not safe for the storage of solar batteries, saying that an air conditioner is supposed to be installed in the store including two windows to pave the way for cross ventilation.
The Environmental Health Officer maintained that if the swollen batteries should bust, it could trigger fire outbreak in the school, lamenting that the batteries released harmful and colourless gaseous substance that has odour.
She noted that the gaseous substance are irritants capable of irritating the skin, eyes, nose and throat, saying that constant exposure could affect the lungs and cause brain damage.
A solar panel expert, Engr Kingsley Nwigwe of W. Wireless Mechatronics Abuja, said that some of the batteries were swollen, which led to the emission..
He suggested a routine check on the facility every three months, as the battery emitted some gaseous elements that are harmful to human health.
“It has a controller that regulates the charging system but in as much as the battery is unused, it replaces the energy being used. But in a scenario like after school period, the system will be charging and when there is a controller that controls the charging system, it will never overcharge even when its not in use.
"But if some batteries are bad, it keeps receiving energy even when they never get filled up. Some will get swollen if they are over charged, " he added.
The Principal of the school, Adamu Danlami said that he was on official duty outside the school when the incident happened, noting that he immediately directed that the batteries should be switch off.
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