Health Alert: Nigeria activates initiative to address growing concerns about Greenhouse Gas emissions

*Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Baba, Registrar and CEO, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, discloses the Federal Government has activated an initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent, as a direct response to the alarming increase in diseases, including respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular conditions, and other health risks resulting from air pollution

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As part of decisive measures to combat the growing public health crisis linked to environmental pollution, the Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent in the ecosystem.

ConsumerConnect reports the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), disclosed this Monday, February 1, 2026, in Abuja, FCT, during a one-day National Stakeholders’ Engagement on National Emergency Response to Environment-Related Diseases Arising from Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG).

Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Baba, Registrar and CEO of EHCON

The forum was considered a direct response to the alarming rise in diseases, such as respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular conditions, and other health risks exacerbated by air pollution.

Speaking at the stakeholders’ engagement, Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Baba, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EHCON, emphasised that the increasing burden of environment-related diseases fuelled by oil-powered generators, vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and petroleum refining—has reached alarming levels in the West African country.

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Dr. Baba said: “Our findings are alarming. We have observed rising burden of environmentally related diseases linked to greenhouse gas emissions.

“Today’s engagement is not just a meeting; it is a national call to action.”

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He also stated: “The time to act is now, and we must reduce our emissions by 50% to safeguard the health, productivity, and livelihood of Nigerians.”

The Registrar and CEO of EHCON, noted that the Council is fully aligned with Nigeria’s climate change Act, the National Environmental Regulation, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He revealed this would be coordinated across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The initiative, he noted, aims to tackle the growing environmental health crisis that is increasingly linked to diseases, such as respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular conditions, and other health risks exacerbated by air pollution.

The Registrar and CEO of EHCON further explained that the core component of the initiative is the establishment of an Environmental Health Surveillance and Response Unit in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, state governments, and other key stakeholders in the economy.

He emphasised that these units would be responsible for monitoring emission-related health risks, collecting real-time data, and supporting emergency environmental health interventions.

In order to ensure enforcement, however, Dr. Baba noted the Council would ensure a national deployment of licensed environmental practitioners to monitor emissions, enforce compliance, and educate communities about mitigating the health risks of environmental pollution.

He further stated: “We are determined to reduce emissions by 50% through the deployment of advanced environmental health surveillance tools, compliance monitoring, and strict enforcement of industry regulations.”

Dr. Baba stressed the significance of public awareness and behavioural change campaigns.

According to him, promoting cleaner energy sources and fuel additives that cut emissions by up to 50 percent will significantly reduce Nigeria’s environmental footprint in industries and transportation.

Disease linked to poor environmental quality, says Minister

In his remarks at the forum, Balarabe Lawal, Honourable Minister for Environment, represented by the Permanent Secretary Mr. Mahmud Kambari, further emphasised the urgency of the initiative.

Lawal said: “The burden of disease linked to poor environmental quality is rising rapidly. It’s no longer just an environmental issue it’s a public health emergency.

“The costs of inaction far outweigh the cost of intervention.

“We must act decisively now to protect the health of our citizens and our environment.”

Lawal also observed that the National Emergency Response Initiative on Environmental Public Health Impact of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (E-N-E-R-I-E-P-H-I-G-E) would focus on strengthening environmental health regulations and enhancing interagency collaboration.

He stated this effort should be seen as a crucial step in addressing the twin challenges of environmental pollution and public health crises in Nigeria.

The Registrar and CEO explained: “This initiative is not only timely, but it also reflects Nigeria’s commitment to fulfilling its global obligations under the Paris Agreement and its national contributions toward climate change mitigation.”

EHCON declares public health emergency on greenhouse gas, others

The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria recently declared a public health emergency on environmental related diseases linked to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and combustion-engine pollution across the country.

Dr. Baba, who stated this at a recent media briefing, in Abuja, noted that findings from field surveillance and environmental intelligence showed a sharp rise in air-pollution-related diseases, with impacts exceeding the long-term public health effects of the disruptive COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chairman and CEO of EHCON said: “The Council noted that increasing numbers of Nigerians, many without a history of smoking or alcohol consumption, are being diagnosed with chronic and acute respiratory infections, environmentally induced cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and other systemic inflammatory conditions.

“The Council warned that Nigeria is facing rising preventable deaths from pollution-induced diseases, weak emission control in high-risk sectors, escalating healthcare costs, and significant losses in productive human capital. “It stressed that failure to act urgently could overwhelm the healthcare system and undermine national development.”

He also announced the activation of the National Emergency Response Initiative on Environmental Public Health Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

The initiative, he explained, would be implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), relevant government Ministries and agencies, as well as state and local government environmental health departments in Nigeria.

As part of the emergency response, the Registrar said the Council would increase inspections, enforce compliance audits, and sanction defaulters under the 2024 Environmental Health Practice Regulations.

Seventy thousand Environmental Public Health Responders (EPHRs) would be deployed nationwide to strengthen surveillance, support disease reporting in health facilities, and conduct community exposure assessments in high-risk areas.

Besides, he announced a nationwide public awareness campaign to educate citizens on the dangers of air pollution, alongside engagement with industries, transport unions, and facility operators to promote cleaner and safer practices.

Dr. Baba, therefore, expressed confidence that the emergency response would lead to reduced illness and deaths from air pollution, improved air quality, stronger environmental public health governance, and increased national resilience to environmental health threats.

The Registrar urged all stakeholders government, industry, communities, and the media—to support the initiative, and protect the health of Nigerians now and in the future.

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