The Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria), an NGO, has called for global and national action to protect the ozone layer.
The Executive Director, SRADev Nigeria, Dr Leslie Adogame made the call in a statement to mark the 40th anniversary of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985).
The Vienna Convention is a landmark international agreement that set the foundation for global efforts to protect the ozone layer.
The milestone achieved by the convention highlighted decades of scientific collaboration, policy action, and environmental progress that had shaped international responses to ozone depletion and climate change.
Adogame said that in alignment with the global legacy of the convention, SRADeV Nigeria had launched a pioneering initiative: “Promoting Fast Action to Reduce Emissions of Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (F -Gases) and Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) in Nigeria.”
He said the one-year project, running from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025, is supported by the Environmental Investigation Agency, UK (EIA UK).
According to him, the project aims to tackle the pressing issue of F-gases and ODS emissions in Nigeria.
“These substances significantly contribute to global warming and ozone depletion, posing severe environmental and public health risks,” Adogame said.
He noted that the Vienna convention led to the establishment of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that depleted the ozone layer (1987).
He explained that the protocol is a legally binding treaty that had been instrumental in phasing out ozone-depleting substances and mitigating climate change.
The executive director said the Montreal Protocol, had not only helped in restoring the ozone layer but also in reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
He added that the protocol had demonstrated the power of multilateral cooperation in tackling environmental crises.
He noted that Nigeria has made commitments under the Montreal protocol and its Kigali Amendment.
He said the commitments focused on phasing down Hydrofluorocarbons.
He stressed that SRADeV Nigeria’s project sought to bridge gaps in policy, technology, and enforcement mechanisms.
“Nigeria has made significant progress in implementing the Montreal protocol but there is still a lot of work to be done.
“And this is why we have designed our upcoming initiative to assess the country’s progress, identify gaps, and propose necessary actions to enhance environmental sustainability.” Adogame said.
He explained that as part of the implementation strategy, SRADeV Nigeria would be engaging extensively with national key stakeholders, including: Ministries, Department and Agencies like the National Ozone Office.
He listed others as the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, industry practitioners like the Nigerian Association of Refrigeration and Air conditioning Practitioners (NARAP) and developmental bodies like UNIDO.
He said that a comprehensive gap analysis had been conducted to evaluate Nigeria’s current stance on reducing ODS and F-gases emissions.
He added that the findings would be further reviewed by stakeholders to inform targeted interventions.
Adogame said that to formally launch the project, an inception workshop, scheduled for April 10, would bring policymakers, regulatory agencies, industry stakeholders, and the public together.
He stressed that SRADeV Nigeria would roll out capacity-building programmes, stakeholder engagements, and public awareness campaigns to ensure widespread knowledge and compliance.
Highlighting the challenge of public awareness, Adogame quoted Mr Jeremiah Ato, Policy and Technical Officer at SRADeV Nigeria, as saying:
“Refrigerants are used in nearly every household and commercial sectors, yet most Nigerians are unaware of their environmental impact.
“This highlights the urgent need for capacity building and widespread public awareness.”
Emphasising on the environmental impact of F-gases and ODS to the climate, Adogame also quoted Mr Victor Fabumi, Programme Manager at SRADeV Nigeria, as saying:
“F-gases, in particular, have an exceptionally high Global Warming Potential and significantly contribute to rising global temperatures, exacerbating climate change.
” Likewise, ODS not only accelerate global warming but also deplete the ozone layer.
“By tackling the issues of emissions of both F-gases and ODS, SRADeV aims to play a key role in combating climate change.”
NAN
