Ministry, Stakeholders Partner Against Harmful Environmental Substances

To promote the adoption of climate-friendly alternatives, the Federal Ministry of Environment is collaborating with partners to phase out harmful substances in refrigeration, air-conditioning, foam as well as aerosol, and fire protection sectors.

The minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, who sttated this yesterday, in Abuja, at the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and 2025 World Ozone Day in Nigeria. He revealed that the ministry is training technicians as well as strengthening regulations, and facilitating technology transfer with neighbouring countries to attain the goals.

Lawal said this year’s theme, “From science to global action,” underscores the vital role of science in driving collective environmental solutions. He called on partners to strengthen their policies and invest in new technologies in order to enhance the protection the ozone layer.

“As we celebrate this milestone, let us remember that our work is far from over. With the Kigali targets ahead, we owe it to our country and the world to save our only ozone layer by strengthening our policies, adopting cleaner technologies, building strong partnerships, and ensuring that future generations inherit a safer and healthier environment. Nigeria is determined, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, to meet new obligations and safeguard our environment”, he said.

The minister lauded that forty years ago, the Vienna Convention was adopted, followed by the Montreal Protocol which he noted has remained the most successful multilateral environmental agreement that has over the years been guiding the global phase-out of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

The minister who revealed that scientific evidence shows that the ozone layer is on track to recover by 2066, further explained that the Kigali Amendment of 2016 further enhances this progress by addressing the effects of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and contributing to climate change mitigation, especially among African nations.

The environmental administrator reiterated that Nigeria ratified both the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol in 1988 and has since met key phase-out targets, including CFCs and Halons. He added that Nigeria has also ratified the Kigali Amendment and will soon commence implementation of the plan.