The Federal Government says greenhouse gas emissions are driving respiratory and cardiovascular diseases nationwide, as it activates a national emergency response framework to address growing environmental public health risks.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, raised the concern on Monday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ engagement on the National Emergency Response to Environment-Related Diseases Arising from Greenhouse Gas Emissions, organised by the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON).
Lawal, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mahmud Kambari, said evidence from environmental surveillance, health statistics and peer-reviewed assessments shows a disturbing increase in diseases linked to poor environmental quality.
He said the trend has moved beyond environmental management and now constitutes a public health emergency.
“Respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular conditions and other environmentally linked diseases are rising, and the burden is increasing faster than the health system can accommodate,” Lawal said.
He added that households are facing higher healthcare costs, workforce productivity is declining, and environmental degradation continues to undermine national development goals.
Lawal said the lack of a coordinated national framework to systematically address environmental health risks associated with greenhouse gas emissions has worsened the challenge.
Against this backdrop, he said the Federal Government, in collaboration with EHCON and key stakeholders, has activated the National Emergency Response Initiative on Environmental Public Health Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (NERI-EPHIGGE).
According to him, the initiative provides a coordinated national framework for immediate and long-term interventions, including strengthened environmental health regulations and enforcement, as well as the nationwide establishment of environmental health surveillance and response units.
He said the framework also promotes cleaner energy adoption, sustainable industrial practices, low-emission transport systems, and public awareness and behaviour-change campaigns.
Lawal assured that the ministry would work with state governments, relevant agencies, development partners and civil society organisations to ensure that environmental protection efforts translate into measurable public health outcomes.
He stressed that addressing the health impacts of greenhouse gas emissions requires collective action involving government, regulators, industries, and the transport and energy sectors.
“The cost of inaction is greater than the cost of intervention. The science is clear, the health evidence is undeniable, and the risks are immediate,” Lawal said.
He called on stakeholders to support the implementation of the national emergency response initiative, while commending EHCON for convening what he described as a timely engagement, as Nigeria grapples with the health consequences of rapid urbanisation, industrial expansion, rising energy demand and increased transportation activities.
