Juliet Jacob 
Environment Minister, Balarabe Abbas Lawal
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Environment Minister, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has warned that air pollution now poses a greater global health threat than malaria and HIV/AIDS combined, describing it as a “silent killer” that claims over seven million lives every year.
Lawal issued the warning on Monday in Abuja during the commemoration of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
He listed bush burning, vehicular emissions, and gas flaring as the country’s leading contributors to toxic air, stressing their severe consequences for human health and ecosystems.
“Air pollution causes over seven million deaths annually—more than malaria and HIV/AIDS combined. Despite its severity, action against it has been too slow,” the Minister said.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to reverse the trend. “We must embrace sustainable practices, adopt cleaner technologies, and inspire our communities to act—so that every Nigerian can breathe cleaner, safer air,” he added.
During the event, Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Adam Kambari launched the National Clean Air Programme and the #BreatheEasyNigeria Campaign, which he described as coordinated frameworks designed to safeguard health, protect the environment, and align Nigeria with global standards.
Health experts at the ceremony also raised alarms, President of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, Prof. Ekanem Ekure, noted that children are most vulnerable: “Clean air is a fundamental right. Children deserve the strongest protection through policies and awareness campaigns.”
Registrar of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, Dr Yakubu Mohammed-Baba, stressed that air pollution is fuelling non-communicable diseases and pledged support for government efforts to deliver a cleaner, healthier environment.
About the Author
Mirian Gom 
Hussaini Ibrahim 
