By Victoria Attah, Correspondent
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving chemical safety, public health security and emergency preparedness as part of efforts to protect Nigerians from the dangers posed by chemical incidents.
In a press statement issued on Thursday by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, the government said the position was reiterated at the Second Quarter 2026 meeting of the National Committee on Chemical Surveillance and Emergency Systems (NCCSES) in Abuja, where stakeholders reviewed the draft implementation strategy for the National Guidelines for Chemical Event Surveillance in Nigeria.
Speaking at the meeting, Director of the Food and Drugs Services Department in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Olufowobi-Yusuf Adeola, said chemical incidents continue to pose significant risks to human health, the environment, livelihoods and national development.
She explained that the NCCSES was established in line with the International Health Regulations (2005), recommendations of the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) and the One Health approach to improve the country’s capacity to detect, report and respond to chemical-related emergencies.
According to her, the committee has recorded notable achievements, including the development and launch of the National Guidelines for Chemical Event Surveillance in Nigeria, laboratory mapping and capacity assessment initiatives, and improved collaboration among relevant stakeholders.
Adeola also highlighted ongoing efforts to establish Poison Information Centres and increase public awareness of chemical hazards and their implications for public health.
She stressed the need for a practical and sustainable roadmap that would translate the provisions of the guidelines into measurable actions and tangible outcomes at national, state and community levels.
The director urged stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to discussions aimed at enhancing preparedness and response mechanisms across the country.
In his goodwill message, Country Lead of the United Kingdom Health Security Agency, Dr. Ayo Oyinloye, expressed optimism that Nigeria would continue to build the capacities required to meet international standards for health security.
Oyinloye said the agency was providing technical support to partner countries to strengthen their ability to prevent, detect and respond to chemical and other public health threats.
He described the committee’s work as critical to protecting lives and promoting national resilience, stressing the importance of local ownership in achieving sustainable results. “No one can do it for Nigeria except Nigerians themselves,” he said, urging participants to remain committed to efforts aimed at safeguarding public health.
The meeting also reviewed progress made since the first quarter, assessed implementation of key action points and explored ways to improve coordination among agencies involved in managing chemical incidents, as participants discussed measures to deepen collaboration among the health, environment, agriculture, industry, emergency management and security sectors, while examining strategies for improving incident reporting systems.
Other issues considered included promoting integrated surveillance through the One Health approach and identifying priorities for boosting national preparedness and response capabilities.
The meeting, supported by the UK Health Security Agency, brought together representatives of federal ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, academia, research institutions, regulatory agencies, professional bodies and emergency response organisations.
Stakeholders said the initiative reflects Nigeria’s growing determination to build a more effective system for managing chemical hazards and reducing their health, environmental and socio-economic impact on citizens.
