The federal government has declared a public health emergency over the rising burden of respiratory, cardiovascular, and other environment-related diseases across Nigeria, stemming from increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, stated this at a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, emphasizing the need for collective action to address the crisis.
The government has launched the National Emergency Response Initiative on Environmental Public Health Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (NERI-EPHIGGE) to deliver interventions through strengthened regulations, environmental health surveillance, cleaner energy adoption, and public awareness campaigns.
Lawal noted that the absence of a coordinated national framework has worsened the situation, with families spending more on treatment, workforce productivity declining, and environmental degradation undermining development goals.
Tags:
- Public Health Emergency
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Environmental Health
- Climate Change
- Nigeria
