Top 20 Dirtiest Cities in Africa – Most Polluted

In Africa, due to the large population, there are places where pollution and dirtiness are rated high. Among others, Below is a list of the 20 dirtiest cities in Africa / Most Polluted.

Top 20 Dirtiest Cities in Africa (Most Polluted)

1. Onitsha, Nigeria

A city located on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Nigeria’s Anambra State. A
metropolitan city, Onitsha, is known for its river port, and as an economic hub for commerce, industry, and education. It is the host of the Onitsha Main Market, the largest market in Africa in terms of geographical size and volume of goods which is one of the reasons why this part of Nigeria is very dirty.

However, as Onitsha has been a symbol of urban blight, it is also becoming a poster child of modern-day urban renewal.

Federal expressway reconstructed by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra. Significant efforts have been made by the Government of Anambra State to clean up the city and improve security.

2. Kaduna, Nigeria

Kaduna is an industrial center of Northern Nigeria, manufacturing products like textiles,
Machinery, steel, aluminum, petroleum products, and bearings. However, the textile industry has been declining because of factory closings due to neglect during military rule and competition with Chinese imports. Automobile manufacturing also remains an important part of Kaduna’s economy. Pottery is highly prized from Kaduna, especially from the Nok culture, which precedes Abuja and Minna. Other light manufactures include plastics, pharmaceuticals, leather goods, furniture, and televisions. Some of the main agricultural exports include cotton, peanuts, sorghum, and ginger.

One of Nigeria’s four main oil refineries is located in Kaduna. It is supplied by a pipeline from the Niger Delta oil fields. These among others are the reasons why Kaduna is one of the dirtiest.

A 2009 World Bank survey states that Kaduna is one of the top six cities with the highest unemployment. 20% of the population is estimated to be unemployed.

3. Aba, Nigeria

The city located in the eastern parts of Nigeria is home to commercial activities and all sorts of services, buying and selling.

4. Umuahia, Nigeria

Umuahia is the capital city of Abia state which is located in the eastern parts of Nigeria. It is one of the oldest Igbo areas.

5. Kampala, Uganda

Kampala is located in Uganda. it is particularly popular for its economic strength although it is also considered to be one of the dirtiest cities in Africa, there are also some really nice places there too.

6. Owerri, Nigeria

Owerri is the capital of IMO state which is located in the eastern part of Nigeria.
In as much as Owerri is the capital of Imo state, it is a very polluted place and this is as a result of all the companies and numerous Businesses that operate there.

7. Dakar, Senegal

The seventh on the list of the dirtiest cities. Although it is a very popular place that it was used in a recent Jamb Novel. That does not change the status as one of the dirtiest cities in Africa

8. Bamenda, Cameroon

Its sewage and refuse dumps and some other pollutants have constituted its dirtiness. Therefore it is the 8th dirtiest city in Africa.

9. Accra, Ghana

Accra which is the capital and biggest city in Ghana is a dirty area mainly due to its large population of illiterates. Accra is the ninth most polluted and dirtiest city in Africa.

10. Hartebeespoort, South Africa

Hartbeespoort, informally also known as “Harties”, is a small resort town in the North West Province of South Africa, situated on slopes of the Magaliesberg mountain and the banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam. The name of the town means “gateway of the hartebeest ” (a species of antelope ) in Afrikaans. It was previously known as Schoemansville, named after General Hendrik Schoeman, a Boer General in the Anglo-Boer War, who owned the farm that the Hartbeespoort Dam was built on. They specialize in Farming which is a major cause of dirty environments.

11. Nsukka, Nigeria

Nsukka is a town and Local Government Area in southeast Nigeria in Enugu State. It has some of the most recognized educational institutions in Nigeria like UNN( University of Nigeria, Nsukka) among others. However, it is unfortunate that this city is one of the dirtiest in Africa

12. Auchi, Nigeria

Auchi is the second-largest city in Edo state after the capital Benin city. The famous Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi which attracts young adults from different parts of the country is located there. It is hilly in nature and has one of the dirtiest surroundings. The famous Akpu/foo-foo extraction and manufacturing is the major cause of pollution in the dirty areas in Auchi.

13. Bafoussam, Cameroon

Bafoussam is the capital of the West Region of Cameroon, in the Bamboutos Mountains. It is the prefecture of the Mifi department, one of three arrondissements in the department. The city had a population of 239,287 inhabitants (at the 2005 Census). The city is the region’s center of trade. People are farming coffee, tobacco, and tea. The city has also a coffee processing facility and brewery. It is the main city of the Bamiléké people and is home to a chief’s palace. The city of Bafoussam has grown to now include the three traditional “chefferies” of Baleng, Fusap, and Bamougoum. The main neighborhoods of the city are Banego, Djeleng, Famla, Kamkop, Quartier Eveché, Quartier Haussa, and Tandja.

14. Ile Ife, Nigeria

This prestigious city in Ondo state is a well-known one. It is one of the oldest towns that have a history of the Benin people. But it is heartbreaking that it is termed one of the dirtiest cities in Africa.

15. Abakaliki, Nigeria

Abakaliki, as in the past, is a center of agricultural trade including such products as yams, cassava, rice, and both palm oil and palm kernels, as well as kola nuts. It is also known for its local lead, zinc, salt, and limestone mining or quarrying. They host many golf courses and hotels. The huge incentives and tax holidays offered by the Ebonyi state government to all major private investors have brought about a marked increase in new businesses in Abakaliki city. The government promotes both poultry and egg production.

16. Johannesburg – South Africa

In 2011, the population of the city of Johannesburg was 4,434,827, making it the largest city in South Africa. Its major source of revenue is Gold mining. Due to its large population, it is one of the dirtiest cities in Africa.

17. Afikpo, Nigeria

Afikpo, also known as “Ehugbo”, is a town and the second-largest urban area in Ebonyi State. It is the headquarters of the Afikpo North Local Government Area.

18. Buchanan, Liberia

Buchanan is the third-largest city in Liberia, lying on Waterhouse Bay, part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is referred to as Gbezohn in the local Bassa language. As of the 2008 census, Buchanan has a population of 34,270. Of this, 16,984 were male and 17,286 female. Though not so large it is a dirty city.

19. Yaounde, Cameroon

In Yaounde, Local residents engage in urban agriculture. The city is estimated to have “50,000 pigs and over a million chickens.

20. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Addis Ababa is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. The population is estimated to reach ~ 6,500,000 currently. However, it’s recorded at 3,384,569 according to the 2007 population census, with an annual growth rate of 3.8%. This number has been increased from the originally published 2,738,248 figure and appears to be still largely underestimated. It is a very rich and popular city in Ethiopia but it has a lot of dirt and pollution.

So there you have it. Please keep your area clean today. It starts with you.

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