On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Dr Sadiq Mohammed, an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, urged the Federal Government to strengthen Nigeria’s environmental protection laws to safeguard public health and improve life expectancy.
In an interview in Abuja, Dr Mohammed expressed concern about the widespread pollution of water bodies, the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals, and poor compliance with environmental regulations nationwide.
He noted that pollution of water bodies affects the quality of crops and fruit yields, and their consumption negatively impacts the life expectancy of many Nigerians.
Dr Mohammed stated that some industries discharge industrial and pharmaceutical wastes into water bodies meant for municipal water supply.
He also pointed out that burning mutilated naira notes, which contain mercury, leads to mercury-laden ash being deposited on the soil.
Local farmers, unaware of the chemical processes, may use this ash as organic manure, leading to health issues such as goitre due to the interaction between mercury and iodine in the human body.
He stated that the environment reflects what is introduced into it; pollutants absorbed by plants eventually enter the human food chain.
Dr Mohammed warned that continuous exposure to harmful chemicals without biological function could reduce the average life expectancy of Nigerians to 30 years if environmental laws are not strengthened.
Furthermore, he raised concerns about the long-term impact of agrochemical residues on soil fertility and the indiscriminate granting of mining licenses without proper reclamation laws. Abandoned mine sites often collect water used by farmers for irrigation, further contributing to food chain contamination.
In response to these challenges, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has acknowledged the need for stronger environmental legislation.
He announced plans to establish a tribunal dedicated to prosecuting environmental crimes, aiming to address lapses in enforcing existing laws and to protect Nigeria’s environment and public health.
