Clean environment vital to health – Minister

Malam Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment, has said that maintaining a clean environment is essential to public health, describing it as the “gateway to sound health” during a stakeholder meeting.

He made the remark in Abuja on Wednesday at the third quarter 2025 Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement Meeting, where ministry officials outlined recent environmental policies, achievements, and ongoing public health efforts.

“Once you can clear the environment and make it conducive for living, you’ll reduce the risk of frequent hospital visits and disease outbreaks,” the minister said.

He said many ailments, including cholera, typhoid, malaria, and flu, were environmentally driven, and that a cleaner environment directly reduced the chances of those diseases affecting individuals and their families.

Lawal stressed that a clean, safe environment was one of the most important foundations for a healthy population, adding that the ministry had made tangible progress over the last two years.

“The most important value of this ministry is to secure a quality environment that supports good health and well-being of people, plants, animals, and the overall ecosystem,” the minister added.

He emphasised the ministry’s responsibility to promote sustainable use of natural resources, support environmental research, and implement development initiatives that enhanced conservation and sustainability nationwide.

“We are also tasked with restoring ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and strengthening public understanding of environmental issues by raising awareness and promoting the use of accurate environmental indicators,” Lawal said.

Earlier, Alhaji Mahmud Kambari, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, said the meeting aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to enhance inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability in governance.

Kambari, represented by Mrs Oluwayemisi Salako, Director of the Legal Department, said the ministry had carried out numerous programmes, projects, and reforms aimed at improving environmental sustainability across Nigeria.

He noted that many of the ministry’s efforts had not been properly documented or publicised due to the lack of a structured platform to highlight achievements and collect public feedback on challenges.

“Today’s session allows us to present updates on our recent environmental milestones, highlight existing challenges, and engage directly with citizens for improved environmental management,” Kambari said.