By Simeon OSAJIE
The Executive Director of Centre for Clean Energy and Environment Advocacy, (CCEEA) Initiative, Dr. Sunny Duke Okosun on Friday called on government for urgent measures to address climate change by enforcing laws, set ambitious clean air and waste targets, and invest in clean energy across Nigeria.
Dr. Okosun made the call during CCEEA Initiative programme of 2026 World Environment Day themed: “Climate Change,” Sub-theme: “Urbanization and Image Change: Building Resilient Cities For A Sustainable Future”. The event took place at Ehizua Hub and Event Centre on Airport Road, Benin City, Edo State capital.
Welcoming guests to the event, Dr. Okosun called on industries to adopt circular economy models, eliminate flaring, and disclose environmental performance and urged citizen to reduce footprint, raise voice and hold leaders accountable.
Delivery his Paper titled: “Breathing the Cost: The Effect of Pollution on Human Health and the Environment, and Pathways to Remedy,” Dr. Okosun disclosed that CCEEA Initiative focus on a crisis that is invisible, pervasive, and deadly: pollution, noting that pollution is not just smoke from exhaust pipes or waste in our rivers. At its core, pollution is a chemical problem.
He disclosed that over 350,000 chemicals and chemical mixtures are registered for production and use globally as of 2024, according to the UN Environment Programme and the Stockholm Convention Secretariat. That’s more than triple the number recorded in the 1990s.
According to him, these chemicals are in our plastics, pesticides, cosmetics, electronics, textiles, and fuels. They drive modern life, but only a fraction – less than 5% – have been properly tested for human and environmental safety. The effects are now visible in our bodies and ecosystems: Persistent Organic Pollutants like PCBs and DDT accumulate in fat tissue, disrupt hormones, and cause cancer and reproductive harm, Heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium damage the brain, kidneys, and nervous system, even at low doses, Airborne chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, and fine particulate matter trigger asthma, heart disease, and premature death and Micro plastics and plastic additives like phthalates and bisphenols act as endocrine disruptors, linked to infertility and developmental disorders in children.
“We have industrialized faster than our ability to manage the chemical footprint. The result is that humans and wildlife are now exposed to a complex cocktail of substances that did not exist a century ago.
“Pollution is the world’s largest environmental cause of premature death. WHO and UNEP estimate 9 million premature deaths annually are linked to pollution—more than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.
“In Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa, the burden is disproportionate due to our triple exposure like Air pollution from vehicle emissions, open burning, gas flaring, and generators, Water pollution from industrial discharge, oil spills, and poor waste management and Land and chemical pollution from e-waste, plastics, and agrochemicals.
“The remedies is a multi-level approach like Policy and Governance, Technology and Infrastructure, Community and Behavior Change and Individual Action,” he said.
He concluded by saying that a choice before us is to treat pollution as an externality, or recognize it as a present threat to human life, economic stability, and national security. The remedies exist. They are technically feasible, economically sensible, and socially just. What is required now is political will, corporate responsibility, and citizen engagement.
A clean environment he said is not a luxury. It is a human right and a precondition for development. If we get this right, we protect health, restore ecosystems, and build a resilient economy for 2027 and beyond.”
In his presentation with topic: “Cutting the Carbon: Role of Government, Industry, Communities and Youth in Reducing Emissions”, a frontline Environmentalist and Climate Action Advocate, Dr. Godwin Uyi-Ojo drew the attention to major environmental issues that are plaguing our society, not just Nigeria, but on a global level.
According to him, How do we cut carbon emissions? And what is the role of the stakeholders, especially governments, industry, communities and civil society and of course you and I, what role do we play?
He stated that climate change is not a hoax. It’s not something that is not real. Climate change is real. It is due to carbon emissions that have been piled up in the atmosphere for over centuries. And the source of this carbon is mainly petroleum products, fossil fuel, oil, gas, including the fuel that we use. And the situation has grown worse because it’s not only being stored in our own environment, it is leading to increasing earth’s temperature.
“Due to the carbon emissions released into the atmosphere, the temperature of the earth is increasing. You know as human beings we have our temperature, isn’t it? So the earth has its own temperature that is measured. And it’s increasing because of the planet experience.
“Many of us are familiar with somebody that is shivering and then feeling cold and now using blankets to cover the person. Have you experienced it? The person becomes warm. So the earth in a simple way is experiencing a blanket experience because the heat that that person is feeling is coming from where? It’s coming from the person’s body. So the heat that is being caused by the earth is being generated by carbon emissions,” he said.
In his presentation with topic: “Truth in a Time of Outbreaks: Confronting the Insincerity and Politics Behind Global Epidemics”, an academic scholar and public health advocate, NOVENA University, Ogume, Delta State, Prof. Cyril Otoikhian, a Geneticist, stated that when you watch the environment, you have answers to everything that is declared as pandemic, as whatever.
He stated that the God that created us did not give us the grace that he has created us to do. So if you watch the environment, then the environment will win.
There was panelist discussions which included Engr. Stanley Asabor, CEO Starz Legacy Congautogas Lim,ited, Hon. Uyi Ekhosuehi, Managing Director, Edo State Water Corporation, and Amb. Dr. Luycky Enehita-Inegbenehi, Managing Director, Edo State Waste Management Agency on the topic Climate Change.
Highlights of the event was award presentations to deserving Nigerians in recognition of their contributions to the development of the society.