Environmentalists have asked for more public education so that Nigeria can meet its obligations under the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment.
The experts made the request on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Abuja, during a stakeholders workshop organised by the Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV – Nigeria) with support from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA, UK).
According to them, by raising public awareness, Nigeria can effectively reduce ozone-depleting emissions and encourage sustainable habits that would protect the environment for future generations.
Professor Innocent Barikor, Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA), told the participants at the event that, as Nigeria’s lead agency for environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement, his organisation is committed to implementing policies and regulations that protect the environment from pollutants such as fluorinated gases (F-gases) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
The DG, represented by Elijah Udofia, the Director of Environmental Quality Control, stated that NESREA’s efforts to collaborate with relevant ministries, agencies, and development partners have consistently promoted cleaner and more sustainable environmental practices across various sectors.
“Achieving meaningful progress requires collective action in adopting innovative technologies, strengthening regulatory frameworks, raising public awareness, and encouraging private sector participation in the transition to environmentally friendly alternatives,” he added.
The workshop, in his view, therefore presents a critical platform to deliberate on practical solutions, share best practices, and accelerate implementation strategies towards reducing these harmful emissions.
Professor Barikor praised SRADev Nigeria and the project’s financier, EIA UK, for facilitating the dialogue, assuring that NESREA would continue to provide the necessary technical and regulatory support to ensure Nigeria meets its commitments under international environmental treaties while also promoting economic and social development.
He urged the attendees to keep in mind that the decisions they make today will have a long-term effect on environmental resilience, public health, and the planet’s sustainability.
“Together, we can advance a cleaner, healthier, and more climate-resilient Nigeria,” the NESREA boss said.
While also commending the issue, Nigeria’s Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change, Yusuf Kelani, identified education and strong climate-related law enforcement as the most effective measures to addressing Nigeria’s expanding environmental concerns.
According to the presidential aide, raising awareness at a young age will enable future generations to better comprehend and alleviate the effects of climate change while also encouraging sustainable practices.
“We believe that from an early age, people need to understand what climate change is about, its effects, and the role they can play in protecting the environment,” Kelani said.
He also discussed an initiative his office is working on, which intends to nominate at least two climate change ambassadors for each of Nigeria’s local government areas by the end of the year.
This programme, Kelani elaborated, would help ensure that climate change discussions are promoted at the grassroots level, fostering local ownership and engagement on environmental stewardship.
Speaking about the exercise’s goal, SRADev Nigeria Executive Director, Dr. Leslie Adogame, alluded to the fact that it represents a major turning point in the country’s overall progress towards environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
This programme, he explained, is intended to support and amplify the Nigerian government’s ongoing efforts to transition to low Global Warming Potential (GWP) alternatives, thereby lowering the environmental and public health risks associated with Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (F-gases) and Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS).
Dr. Adogame hinted that the project, which is focuses on “promoting fast action to reduce emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS) in Nigeria”, will include conducting comprehensive assessments, increasing stakeholder engagement, and building capacity and awareness.
The executive director of SRADev said Nigeria has demonstrated unwavering commitment to international environmental agreements, notably the Montreal Protocol and its subsequent amendments.
According to him, the government’s proactive measures include the phased reduction of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), with a target to phase out 51.35% of HCFC consumption by the end of this year.
He went on to say that initiatives like the AGORA project have been launched to promote energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling technologies.
However, despite these commendable efforts, he acknowledged that challenges persist in fully transitioning to low GWP alternatives.
“Our project seeks to bridge these gaps by providing the necessary support through awareness, capacity building and robust stakeholder engagement to accelerate the adoption of sustainable technologies and practices,” Dr. Adogame stated.
As stakeholders embark on this critical endeavour, it is important to reaffirm their collective commitment to safeguarding the environment for present and future generations. This is because, through collaborative action, informed policy-making, and dedicated advocacy, Nigeria can achieve significant reductions in F-gas and ODS emissions, contributing to a healthier planet and a more sustainable nation.
By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja