Alert, Govt Links Greenhouse Gas Emissions To Some Ailments, See List

There is need to be alert over the issue of Greenhouse Gas emissions as the Federal Government is now linking it with a number of respiratory diseases.

The Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal, provided the link yesterday while addressing a stakeholders’ engagement forum on the National Emergency Response to Environment-Related Diseases Arising from Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Addressing the meeting organised by the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON),

he listed the growing burden of respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular conditions, and other environment-related diseases to gas emissions across Nigeria.

Backing his submission with evidence from environmental surveillance, health statistics, and peer assessments, Lawal, said these show troubling rise in diseases linked to greenhouse gas emissions.

Aside that families are spending more on treatment, he said, the burden of disease associated with poor environmental quality is growing faster than the health system can handle.

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However all hope is not lost as, according to him, the Federal Government, in partnership with stakeholders, has activated the National Emergency Response Initiative on Environmental Public Health Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (NERI-EPHIGGE).

The ministry the minister added, would continue working with state governments, relevant agencies, development partners, and civil society organisations to ensure environmental protection efforts result in measurable public health outcomes.

He equally urged regulatory bodies, industries, as well as the transport and energy sectors to synergise with the government towards containing the challenge of  gas emissions.

Our correspondent reports that the minister was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Mahmud Kambari.