Environment
N’Delta: Experts Demand Baseline Data For Indoor Air Quality
Environment experts in the Niger Delta region have asked the governments to provide baseline data for indoor air quality in the region.
They made the call in Port Harcourt, shortly after a roundtable discussion on the theme: ‘Indoor Air Pollution, Workers’ Health and Productivity in the Niger Delta region,’ organized by Selemati Foundation in collaboration with the Rivers State University (RSU) Advancement and Linkage Centre.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the programme, a professor at Institute of Pollution Studies, RSU, Tubonimi Ideriah stated that air pollution has no environmental or geographical boundaries and it is mostly a consequence of human activities. He noted that until people stop excessive use of contaminants and pollutants indoor air pollution will not reduce.
Ideriah particularly pointed out that the absence of this baseline data was responsible for the inability of experts to easily access and solve the problems of indoor air pollution, adding that access to accurate data and information would enable experts to create the necessary awareness on best practices needed to educate and sensitise the public to reduce indoor air pollution.
The professor maintained that most developed countries have standard permissive limits as a guide, while regretting that researchers in Nigeria have to rely on adopted standard permissive limits from other developed countries in order to ascertain Nigeria’s standard limits which ordinarily ought not to be so.
He urged employers to design or redesign the office environment such that each work area has properly operating supply and exhaust vents, while proactive approach be taken to address Indoor Air Quality concerns as failure to respond can lead to more serious adverse health issues.
Also speaking, an Environmental Health Expert Consultant, Dr Kanu Chukwunenye stated that residents should guide against the sources of indoor air pollution such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehydes, pesticides, lead, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur-dioxide (Kerosine heaters), the use of charcoal among others.
Chukwunenye cautioned residents to desist from the habit of keeping generators close to residential areas, noting that this negative practice has contributed majorly to the rising death toll in the country.
He attributed the much use of Generators to lack of electricity supply in the country and blamed electricity distribution companies across the Niger Delta region for sabotaging the efforts of governments in ensuring steady power supply in Nigeria.
On her part, the programme coordinator, Selemati Foundation, Rita Kigbara stated that lots of research works needed to be done on contaminants and pollutants as researchers lacks the needed fund to proceed in their research works.
Kigbara called on the Niger Delta governments to support research works in order for them to do their job effectively, regretting that there was a big disconnect between researchers and governments in the region which is responsible to the problems researchers faced in this region.
“One of the challenges faced by researchers is funding and that is why we have little coming from that sector. Also there is a disconnect between what researchers have done in terms of reports and recommendations and what the governments decide to do with them,” Kigbara added.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Ministry of Environment on Thursday in Abuja, advanced its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, validating a comprehensive plan aimed at tackling climate-related challenges in the country.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Mahmud Kambari, said this at the Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on the Development of the concept notes to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for NAP in Nigeria.
Kambari, who was represented by Mrs Victoria Pwol, the Deputy Director in the Department of Climate Change (DCC) in the ministry, said that the workshop is a collective resolve to confront the realities of climate change with purpose, strategy, and coordinated action.
“Over the past years, the Federal Government of Nigeria, with crucial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has made significant progress in advancing the NAP process.
“As a nation, we stand at a critical juncture where climate risks ranging from extreme weather events to environmental degradation continues to threaten our socio-economic stability, food systems, public health, infrastructure, and national development aspirations.
“Through extensive technical work, we have completed a Climate Risk Assessment across all geopolitical and agro-ecological zones, developed an Economic Appraisal, an Adaptation Finance Strategy, and a robust Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.”
Kambari said that these foundational elements now guide Nigeria to identify priority adaptation needs and investment opportunities.
“Let me mention that we are at the tail end of this NAP Formulation Process and looking forward to the implementation phase.
“This workshop therefore serves as a strategic purpose to harmonise perspectives across key MDAs; refine project ideas into strong, evidence-based concept notes.
“It will ensure that proposed interventions align with national priorities and the investment criteria of the GCF and position Nigeria to competitively access the resources required to strengthen resilience across vulnerable sectors,” he said.
Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, the Director DCC in the Ministry said that the engagement would enhance achievements by collaboratively developing bankable, climate-resilient concept notes that align with national priorities and meet the GCF’s investment requirements.
Abiola-Awe who was represented by Dr Jonah Barde in the Ministry said that the workshop represented an important step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen climate resilience.
She added that the workshop would advance sustainable development, and mobilise the climate finance needed to safeguard Nigeria’s communities, ecosystems, and economy from the growing impacts of climate change.
Effective communication, transparency, and science-based risk assessments are the cornerstones of Nigeria’s approach to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
Mr Bello Bwari, the Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), gave the assurance during a media interaction in Abuja on Friday.
“Where there is communication, you reduce conflict. Effective communication is key, effective engagement with stakeholders is paramount and key to making Nigeria better.
Bwari said anti GMO’s critics keep participants and practitioners on their toes.
“We value them and we expect that their criticisms, suggestions and recommendations will make our operations in the entire spectrum better.
“Where we are not doing so well, we will hear from them, where we can advance explanations, we will advance explanations. Where they are not doing well, we will tell them. We will not run away from doing that.
“But I want to assure you that we are bold enough to face anybody who is not fact-based,” he said.
He reassured that sometime before the end of the second quarter of 2026 there would be a retreat where all stakeholders would be invited.
“And also, the impact we are bringing is going to be measurable by the end of 2026. And going forward, what we do by the end of 2026 will form the basis of our five-year plan.
“There’s a five-year plan which will start at the end of 2026. So, I enjoin the media to please report what you know as a matter of fact, not as a matter of opinion.
“We all have different opinions, but some of our opinions are not facts. From the quality of what I see on papers, reportage, I think largely I’m impressed with what the press is doing in Nigeria so far,” he said.
Bwari stated that Nigerians deserved to understand what NBMA regulates, why they regulate it, and how decisions were made.
“Part of my focus going forward will be strengthening engagement with the media, researchers, policymakers, and the public because regulation works best when it is understood.
“We are not promoters of any technology, and we are not opponents of innovation. We are regulators.
“But at its core, biosafety is about prevention, caution, and preparedness. It is about ensuring that innovation does not outpace safety, and that national development never compromises public health or environmental integrity,” he said.
He promised to uphold the law without fear or favour, communicate more clearly with the public and ensure that every regulatory decision was transparent, evidence-based, and accountable
“NBMA is not an advocacy agency. Our duty is to assess risks, enforce safeguards, and ensure compliance with national and international biosafety standards.I also want to emphasise that public trust matters.
He further urged the media to help Nigerians understand biosafety and biosecurity in a better way.
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