Government officials and development partners have called for swift policy action, strategic investments, and technological innovation to strengthen Nigeria’s energy-resilient and climate-smart health systems through sustainable financing and stronger institutional collaboration.
The call was made during the Legislative Roundtable on Climate, Environment, and Sustainable Health held on Monday in Abuja, where participants stressed the urgency of legislative accountability and sustainable financing in tackling climate-related health challenges.
Dr. Pavel Ursu, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative to Nigeria, represented by Dr. Alexander Chimbaru, the Deputy Country Representative, said Nigeria remains highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. He noted that its impacts have continued to worsen existing health problems, strain infrastructure, and increase the burden of diseases in both rural and urban communities.
“Nigeria faces severe health, social, and economic consequences from climate change, including more frequent disasters and worsening inequalities that affect already marginalised groups,” Ursu said.
He described investment in climate-resilient healthcare as both a moral and economic necessity, emphasizing that the poorest populations are the most affected by environmental degradation and limited access to health services.
Sustainable Financing and Policy Accountability
Ursu underscored the importance of sustainable financing mechanisms to support climate-smart health systems. He called for innovative approaches to domestic resource mobilisation, global partnerships, and accountability frameworks that strengthen Nigeria’s resilience to environmental and health shocks.
The WHO representative commended Nigeria’s efforts through the National Health Act and National Climate Change Policy, urging policymakers to integrate climate-health resilience into national development plans and annual budgets.
He reaffirmed WHO’s continued partnership with the Nigerian government in providing technical support, capacity building, and advocacy to achieve universal health coverage and build a climate-resilient health system.
According to him, the roundtable served as a platform for stakeholders to share innovations, discuss policy priorities, and forge new partnerships for sustainable environmental and health initiatives. He called for urgent and collective action to safeguard citizens’ health while promoting environmental sustainability and national development.
Nigeria’s Economic and Environmental Risks
In her remarks, Rita Michael-Ojo, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Environmental Summit Group (NESUG), said addressing Nigeria’s interconnected challenges of energy insecurity, environmental degradation, and public health demands unity, courage, and policy clarity.
Michael-Ojo, who co-convened the roundtable alongside the WHO and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, noted that Nigeria loses over $100 billion annually to the impacts of climate change, including flooding, deforestation, desertification, and air pollution.
She warned that hospitals cannot function efficiently without clean and reliable energy and that environmental decline continues to undermine economic growth and national development.
“Nigeria is at a crossroads, and its future depends on how effectively it responds to these challenges,” she said.
She also highlighted that over 150 million Nigerians live below the poverty line, facing unsafe water, poor energy access, and environmental hazards that compound the nation’s development challenges.
Despite these issues, she expressed optimism that Nigeria can reimagine its sustainability strategy and leverage green innovation for inclusive economic growth and job creation.
Nigeria’s Green Economy Vision
Michael-Ojo announced that the Nigeria Environmental Summit (NESt 2026) will take place from March 25 to 26, 2026, bringing together global and regional leaders to advance Nigeria’s green economy agenda.
She said the summit aims to unlock the country’s €20 billion green economy potential, positioning Nigeria as a continental leader in sustainable energy and environmental transition.
Michael-Ojo reaffirmed NESUG’s commitment to advancing environmental governance, promoting a sustainability culture, and building a secure, energy-efficient, and health-resilient Nigeria for future generations.
