By Favour Ulebor

Nigeria has launched a project aimed at phasing out fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

The initiative, introduced at a workshop in Abuja recently organized by SRADev Nigeria in collaboration with the Environmental Investigation Agency (UK), brings together environmental experts, regulatory bodies, and development partners to tackle emissions.

The Executive Director of SRADev Nigeria, Leslie Adogame, highlighted that the project will support Nigeria’s shift to low Global Warming Potential (GWP) alternatives and strengthen climate resilience.

He said, “The project will assess emissions, build capacity, and raise awareness on F-gases and ODS management”.

In his remarks, The Director General of NESREA, Innocent Barikor, represented by the Director of Environmental Quality Control at NESREA, Elijah Udofia, emphasized the project’s alignment with Nigeria’s international commitments under the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment.

He stressed the importance of embracing innovative technologies, enforcing stronger regulations, and acting collectively to reduce emissions.

The Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change, Yussuf Olatunji Kira, stressed the need for climate change education, revealing plans to integrate it into Nigeria’s national curriculum from nursery to tertiary levels.

He also discussed plans to appoint climate change ambassadors in every local government area to boost awareness.

On emission control, he proposed policies where citizens contribute financially to emissions reduction, fostering accountability.

The President of the Women Environmental Programme (WEP), Priscilla Achapka, called for greater climate change awareness at the grassroots level, particularly among women who make household decisions.

She highlighted the need for educating women about the environmental impacts of household appliances.

Achapka also discussed how climate change, particularly extreme heat waves and ozone depletion, disproportionately affects women’s health, especially older women.

She urged people to adopt simple actions like turning off unused appliances to reduce energy consumption.

The National Programme Coordinator for Environment and Energy at UNIDO, Oluyomi Banjo, underscored the importance of the Montreal Protocol in addressing both ozone depletion and global warming.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s active role in meeting its commitments under the protocol, mentioning the National Ozone Office’s work with UNIDO to phase out harmful substances.

Banjo emphasized the need for industrialization that balances growth with environmental sustainability and the importance of gender inclusion in the climate change discourse.

He revealed that UNIDO, in partnership with the National Ozone Office, has launched the Charities Public Scholarship to encourage women to pursue careers in refrigeration and air conditioning.

Banjo concluded by calling for a collaborative effort from all sectors—government, private, NGOs, and communities—to combat climate change.

He urged stakeholders to adopt practical steps, from small daily actions to supporting sustainable alternatives, to reduce emissions and protect the environment.