In a bold move to tackle rising threats from chemical hazards and strengthen Nigeria’s public health safety net, the Federal Government has launched the country’s first National Guidelines for Chemical Event Surveillance.
Speaking on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom mni, described the landmark document as “a bold step forward” in protecting Nigerians from the growing risks of chemical-related incidents.
“This pivotal document represents the culmination of dedication, collaboration, and our collective resolve to respond effectively to chemical threats, whether accidental, intentional, or naturally occurring,” Kachollom declared at the launch ceremony in Abuja on Monday.
She disclosed that Nigeria had scored poorly in the 2023 Joint External Evaluation (JEE), with a “limited capacity” rating in detecting and managing chemical events a gap the new guidelines aim to close.
The National Guidelines for Chemical Event Surveillance are designed to provide a clear framework for detecting, reporting, responding to, and mitigating chemical incidents that pose threats to human health and the environment.
They are aligned with the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health, and complement Nigeria’s existing Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR), the National Environmental Health Surveillance System, and the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS).
“This document should not gather dust. Let it be the compass that guides us to a safer, smarter, and healthier Nigeria,” Kachollom urged stakeholders.
She commended the extensive partnership that made the guidelines possible, praising the technical teams, partners, and agencies that contributed to the project’s success.
Delivering goodwill messages, stakeholders from sister ministries described the initiative as timely, necessary, and transformative for public health and environmental safety.
Mrs. Omotunde Adeola, Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health at the Federal Ministry of Environment, said the guidelines would help tackle widespread chemical pollution from industrial discharges to poor waste disposal that contaminates Nigeria’s air, water, soil, and food chain.
“Exposure to harmful chemicals can cause respiratory issues, neurological disorders, reproductive challenges, cancers, and developmental delays in children,” Adeola warned, noting that the new framework aligns with global treaties like the Basel, Stockholm, and Rotterdam Conventions on chemical safety.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Danlami Aliyu raised alarm over the rampant misuse of chemicals in agriculture and public health, including unregulated sales and unsafe pesticide use.
“This is a timely tool to strengthen food safety and environmental sustainability,” Aliyu said, recalling personal experiences with the unchecked sale of hazardous chemicals in local markets.
For the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Samuel Anzaku emphasized the document’s relevance to the One Health strategy. “This is a transformative step forward in our nation’s commitment to early detection, reporting, and response to chemical threats,” Anzaku said.
In her welcome remarks, Pharm. Olubunmi Aribeana, Director of the Food and Drug Services Department at the Ministry of Health, described the guidelines as “both timely and historic.”
“This document is not just a technical tool. It is a call to action a necessary step to bridge the gap in chemical surveillance, enhance inter-agency collaboration, and protect our people from the silent threats of chemical exposure,” Aribeana stated.
She applauded the unwavering commitment of the Ministry’s Chemicals Management Programme, which developed the guidelines through wide consultations and technical support from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Resolve to Save Lives, and the National Committee on Chemical Surveillance and Emergency System.
Stakeholders at the launch unanimously called for full implementation and continuous review of the guidelines to keep pace with emerging risks, stressing that chemical safety is a shared responsibility that cuts across sectors and communities.
With the new guidelines, Nigeria hopes to plug critical gaps in surveillance and response capacity, strengthen national resilience to chemical threats, and fulfil global obligations under international conventions on chemical management.
“This is not just policy it is protection for every Nigerian family, every farmer, every community,” Kachollom added, urging all levels of government and stakeholders to make the document a living tool for safeguarding lives and the environment.
