NIGERIA DECLARES PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OVER AIR POLLUTION
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has declared a public health emergency over the rising cases of diseases linked to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Speaking in Abuja, the Registrar of EHCON, Dr Yakubu Baba, said pollution-related illnesses now pose a major but under-reported threat to public health, with impacts worse than the long-term effects of COVID-19. He noted a growing number of Nigerians are being diagnosed with respiratory infections, cancers, and heart diseases due to prolonged exposure to emissions from generators, vehicles, industries, and other fossil-fuel activities.
EHCON warned that preventable deaths, rising healthcare costs, and loss of productivity could worsen if urgent action is not taken. In response, the council has activated a National Emergency Response Initiative to strengthen inspections, enforce emission controls, promote cleaner technologies, and sanction defaulters.
Dr Baba also announced the deployment of 70,000 Environmental Public Health Responders nationwide and a public awareness campaign to educate citizens on the dangers of air pollution. He called on government, industry, communities, and the media to support the initiative to protect the health of Nigerians.