PlanetPulse.NG

For decades, Nigeria’s healthcare and its fight against some of its deadliest diseases has relied heavily on support from international donors.

From HIV treatment centres and malaria interventions to tuberculosis control programmes and life-saving vaccines, foreign assistance has helped millions of Nigerians access healthcare services that might otherwise have remained out of reach.

But that support is beginning to dry up, and that was the concern raised by former Minister of Health and Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Canada, Prof. Isaac Adewole, at the 25th anniversary celebration and public health symposium of APIN Public Health Initiatives in Abuja.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has raised a nationwide alert over increasing temperatures, cautioning that the heat could lead to stress-related health conditions across various parts of the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the agency noted that the rising temperatures pose significant health concerns, especially in several northern states.

The states highlighted include Niger, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Yobe, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, and Adamawa.

NiMet also warned that the impact of the heat would not be limited to those areas alone, adding that other regions, particularly inland areas in the southern part of the country, could also feel the effects.

Forecasts show that heat levels are expected to reach critical thresholds nationwide, with temperatures in the North ranging between 40°C and 45°C, the Central region between 35°C and 38°C, and the South between 33°C and 35°C.

The agency urged Nigerians to adopt safety measures to prevent heat-related illnesses.

It explained that the combination of extreme heat and fine dust particles in parts of the North could heighten the risk of conditions such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even meningitis outbreaks.

I was walking through the streets of Lagos one day when I noticed something simple – people buying sliced watermelon. Interestingly, the ones that looked fresher and brighter were the first to go. No one needed to say anything; people just went for what looked better.

That moment stuck with me because it shows how our choices quietly influence things. What we pick, ignore, or go back for again tells farmers what to grow and tells food companies what to keep making.

Think about it, every time we buy something, we’re kind of voting with our money. Whether it’s plant-based milk, snacks without too many additives, or products in eco-friendly packaging, we’re ultimately shaping what becomes popular.

Here are a few factors influencing consumer choices:

1. Health matters more now
Gone are the days when food is taken lightly. These days, people are no longer eating just to feel full. There’s generally more focus on eating better.

You see more plant-based options everywhere now. Things like protein snacks or yoghurt with probiotics are becoming normal. And people actually read labels, if the ingredients look too complicated, it’s a turn-off.

2. People are starting to care about sustainability
Taste of food products is still important, but it’s not the only thing anymore. A lot of people now think about packaging – less plastic, more recyclable options.

Nigeria is losing about 38 million tonnes of food every year, and it has prompted urgent calls for action from the European Union, the Federal Government, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

The West African giant has emerged as the highest food-wasting country in Africa, highlighting a major gap in the country’s food system despite rising hunger levels.

The losses occur across farms, markets and households, mainly due to poor storage, weak transportation and inefficient distribution systems. Perishable items like fruits and vegetables are the most affected, often spoiling before they reach consumers.

The concerns were recently aired during the commemoration of the International Zero Waste Day in Abuja, where stakeholders highlighted the environmental and economic consequences of food wastage, stressing that resources such as water, energy, and labour are squandered when food is discarded.

In a statement released by the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, the Deputy Ambassador, Zissimos Vergos, pointed out that globally, nearly one billion tonnes of food were wasted in 2022 alone, representing almost 20 per cent of all food available to consumers.

The Government of Abuja, led by Nyesom Wike, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of the owner of the two story building that collapsed on Friday in Jikwoyi, Abuja.

Wike, who gave the order after he inspected the site in Abuja on Monday, also announced the revocation of the 2,500 square meters land allocated to the owner.

The two storey building for a hotel was under construction when it collapsed and wounded several workers.

The minister, who thanked God that no life was lost in the incident, said the owner was constructing the building with no approval from Development Control.

He added that despite the notice of discontinuance from development control, the owner went ahead with the construction.

“The first thing to note is that there was no approval for the construction of this building.

“Since there was no formal approval, and nobody knows the quality of material they were using for the construction, the government will immediately take over this plot of land.

“We will then find out from the community what they will want the government to build for them for public use.

“The owner, and whoever is involved will be arrested and prosecuted,” Wike stated.

The Minister concluded that the FCT Administration would not hesitate to bring down any building that has no approval.

Residents of Lagos will soon return to a once-familiar routine of cleaning their neighbourhoods, as the state government has announced the revival of its monthly environmental sanitation exercise after nearly a decade.

The sanitation programme, which was suspended in November 2016, is now scheduled to resume on the last Saturday of April, 2026. That is, the 25th.

The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement on Saturday.

According to the commissioner, the exercise will hold on the last Saturday of every month.

“I am pleased to inform all Lagosians that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise will resume effective Saturday, 25th April 2026, holding on the last Saturday of every month from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

“During this period, residents are enjoined to clean their surroundings, clear drainage channels in their frontages, and dispose of waste properly as a civic responsibility.”

For many Lagos residents, the sanitation exercise was once a regular feature of life in the city, encouraging communities to collectively maintain cleaner environments and reduce waste buildup.

Wahab said the initiative should be seen as a shared responsibility among citizens, adding that the government will ensure strict enforcement of the policy.

“This exercise is a collective responsibility and a vital part of our commitment to a cleaner, healthier, and flood-resilient Lagos. And it shall be backed with the full enforcement weight of the Lagos State Government.

Nigeria is stepping up efforts to tackle desertification and environmental degradation in the northern region with the validation of nine Strategic Catchment Management Plans designed to restore damaged landscapes and safeguard critical water resources.

The initiative is part of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project (ACReSAL), a climate resilience programme supported by the World Bank and implemented by the Federal Ministry of Environment alongside other federal agencies.

At a validation workshop in Abuja, government officials, environmental experts and development partners warned that ecological pressures in northern Nigeria are already affecting millions of people, putting food security, rural livelihoods and community stability at risk.

Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said the environmental challenges facing the region are already visible in the daily lives of farmers, herders and rural communities.

“These are not abstract environmental concerns. They threaten the food on our tables, the income of our farmers and herders, and the stability of our communities,” Lawal said.

According to him, expanding desert landscapes, unpredictable rainfall, shrinking water sources and declining soil quality are steadily weakening agricultural productivity across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Nigeria’s growing plastic waste problem is becoming a serious environmental and public health concern, with lawmakers warning that the pollution could affect not only ecosystems but also the country’s food supply.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, raised the alarm on Thursday in Abuja while opening a public hearing on Nigeria’s preparedness for a proposed ban on single-use plastics. The hearing was organised by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the matter at the National Assembly Complex.

Abbas said the scale of plastic pollution across Nigerian cities, waterways and dumpsites shows how urgent the environmental challenge has become.

“Our nation is grappling with a severe plastic waste menace that chokes our drainages, degrades our soil quality, threatens marine life in the Niger Delta and the Atlantic coastline, and ultimately infiltrates our food chain,” Abbas said.

Balancing environment and livelihoods

While supporting stronger action against plastic pollution, the Speaker warned that banning single-use plastics without proper planning could create economic disruptions.

He noted that plastic products remain central to many parts of Nigeria’s economy, including manufacturing, packaging, distribution and waste recycling. Thousands of businesses and workers depend on these sectors for their daily income.

In a decisive move that signals a growing shift toward environmental responsibility, Oyo State is setting the stage to phase out single-use plastics, a step that could redefine waste culture in the state.

The proposed law, currently before the Oyo State House of Assembly, seeks to prohibit the production, importation, sale and use of disposable plastic items such as shopping bags, straws, cups, plates, sachets and Styrofoam packs by 2027.

For years, plastic pollution has quietly built up across cities and rural communities, clogging drains, worsening flooding and degrading soil.

To make the transition smoother, the proposal at the Assembly includes a one-year phase-out window. During that period, residents and businesses will be educated on safer alternatives while producers are encouraged to switch to eco-friendly packaging.

If the bill becomes law, enforcement will be handled by a special task force under the Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, working alongside local councils and environmental groups.

Meanwhile, penalties are expected to range from warnings for first-time offenders to fines, mandatory community service, and even business closure for repeat violations.

On any hot afternoon in Nigeria, a cold sachet of water can feel like a small blessing. It is cheap, easy to find, and for many people, the fastest way to quench thirst on the move.

It was no surprise at all when data showed that Nigeria now consumes over 2.5 billion litres of sachet water (known locally as Pure Water) every year. But behind that everyday convenience is a growing environmental problem the country can no longer ignore.

Every day, across Nigerian streets, motor parks, markets and traffic jams, sachet water is bought, torn open, drunk, and discarded within seconds. Beyond the quick quenching of thirst, in many Nigerian communities, pipe-borne water is unreliable or completely absent, making sachet water the safest option for daily use especially in remote areas.