Manny Ita
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) and various stakeholders, has activated the National Emergency Response Initiative on Environmental Public Health Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (NERI-EPHIGGE). Minister Lawal announced that this initiative establishes a coordinated national framework designed to implement both immediate and long-term interventions through enhanced environmental health regulations and stricter enforcement. The comprehensive response plan involves the creation of environmental health surveillance and response units across the country, alongside the promotion of cleaner energy, sustainable industrial practices, low-emission transport systems, and large-scale public awareness campaigns focused on behavior change.
Assuring the public of the government’s commitment, Lawal stated that the ministry will continue to partner with state governments, development agencies, and civil society to ensure that environmental protection efforts yield “measurable public health outcomes.” He emphasized that the burden of responsibility is shared, noting that regulatory bodies and the industrial, transport, and energy sectors must act decisively. The Minister issued a stark warning regarding the urgency of the situation, asserting that “the cost of inaction would be far greater than the cost of intervention given the clear scientific and health evidence and the immediacy of the risks.”
The urgency of this initiative is underscored by World Health Organization (WHO) data indicating that Nigeria’s disease burden linked to climate change could reach 21 percent if current environmental trends persist. Projections suggest a significant rise in climate-driven health issues, ranging from waterborne and neglected tropical diseases to a potential 9.8 percent increase in diarrheal fatalities among children under five. The report further predicts a surge in non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and asthma, as well as mental health cases. Specific high-risk zones have been identified in the north, including Kebbi, Zamfara, and Yobe, as well as southern regions like Cross River and Abia.
By 2050, temperatures in Nigeria are projected to rise by up to 3.0°C in extreme scenarios, a shift that could potentially double heat-related deaths. Furthermore, increased rainfall patterns are expected to place an additional 800,000 people at risk of flooding by the year 2030. In light of these forecasts, the government maintains that the NERI-EPHIGGE framework is a critical step in shielding the population from the escalating intersection of environmental degradation and public health crises.
