The Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Association of Nigeria (EPHPAN) has emphasized that protecting air quality is fundamental to building a healthier and more productive nation.
Dr. Akingbehin Akinbodunwa, National President of EPHPAN, made this call during a lecture held in Lagos to commemorate the 2025 World Environmental Health Day. This year’s event, themed “Clean Air, Healthy People,” sought to draw attention to the dangers of air pollution and its impact on public health.
World Environmental Health Day is observed every September 26 to highlight the relationship between environmental hazards and human well-being.
Speaking at the event, Akinbodunwa described air pollution in Nigeria as a measurable and urgent threat to life, not a distant concern. He cited national health data showing that air pollution ranked as the country’s third leading risk factor for premature death in 2019, accounting for an estimated 198,000 deaths—surpassing fatalities from several well-known infectious diseases.
According to him, both outdoor and household pollution contribute to this alarming toll. In Lagos alone, roughly 23,900 premature deaths in 2019 were linked to air pollution. “These are not mere figures but lives cut short—workers, parents, students and children whose health was undermined by toxic air,” he said.
He explained that fine particulate matter (PM2.5), tiny airborne particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, poses the greatest risk, increasing deaths from heart disease, stroke, lung ailments, cancer and respiratory infections in children. Nigeria’s average PM2.5 levels, he added, have risen by about 24 per cent between 1999 and 2021, eroding life expectancy and deepening health challenges.
In many cities, PM2.5 readings frequently exceed the safety limits set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), exposing millions to heightened risks of cardiovascular disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes and impaired child development. Akinbodunwa warned that the economic costs are equally severe, draining healthcare resources and reducing workforce productivity.
He identified major contributors to Nigeria’s polluted air, including vehicle emissions, open waste burning, diesel generators, industrial discharges, agricultural fires, and the widespread use of firewood and charcoal for cooking. Rapid urbanisation and rising traffic without adequate transport planning, he noted, further worsen the crisis.
To reverse the trend, Akinbodunwa recommended a combination of strong surveillance systems, cleaner household energy, modern transport solutions, tighter controls on industrial and waste emissions, public awareness campaigns and coordinated cross-sector policies.
He urged government agencies, policymakers and citizens to act collectively, stressing that proven solutions already exist. “The challenge is immense, but the science and strategies to reduce pollution are within our grasp. Let this World Environmental Health Day be the start of a sustained national effort to ensure cleaner air and healthier lives for all Nigerians,” he concluded.