The federal government and automobile users in Nigeria have been advised to be cautious over the possibility of advanced countries making the country a dumping ground for expired electric car batteries that are harmful to human health and the environment
Yusuf Bashar, a retired Assistant Comptroller General of Customs gave the warning during a panel discussion session at the just concluded 2024 Comptroller General of Customs Conference in Abuja
Bashar, who headed the Information Communication Technology (ICT) department before retirement from the customs identified that there is possibility of advanced countries shipping used electric cars to Africa, including Nigeria after the batteries of such vehicles may have outlived their lifespan which ranges between ten and twenty years.
The retired customs officer expressed worries that such batteries of used vehicles have tendencies to create bigger and harmful environmental challenges for a developing country like Nigeria
He said having such used electric cars in the country after they have spent about a decade or more in their country of manufacture and areas of first usage could end up making the country of second hand usage a dumping ground.
Bashar, who spoke while moderating a panel discussion noted that the expired electric car batteries have a complex disposal process that countries like Nigeria is not ready to undertake
He also called on the federal government to protect local electric car companies to improve on Nigeria’s indigenous capacity in modern car manufacturing that would create jobs, promote investments in the automobile sector and reduce Nigeria’s dependency on imported vehicles.
Corroborating his position,the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi added that such batteries have lithium components and like solar panels, they are not biodegradable
Findings show that electric car batteries contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and human health if not disposed of properly.
A breakdown of some of the battery properties show listed the presence of cadmium that can cause kidney damage and anemia .
Another property found in them is cobalt that can disrupt thyroid function and prolonged exposure can lead to health issues related to the skin, eyes, and lungs
Lithium can be deposited in the lungs, leading to swelling and other complications while
lead can leach into the soil and water thereby harming the soil ecosystem to impact adversely on agriculture.Other harmful properties in the batteries are mercury which impacts the soil too.
