Strengthening Environmental Health Governance in Nigeria: A Call to Action

Environmental health governance in Nigeria remains fragmented, under-resourced, and poorly coordinated despite the growing burden of environmental risks. Unsafe water, poor sanitation, air pollution, and inadequate waste management continue to contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in the country. This paper argues that the persistent public health challenges linked to the environment are not only technical but largely governance failures. Drawing from current literature and practice, it examines the weaknesses in policy, institutional coordination, funding, and professional recognition that undermine environmental health delivery in Nigeria. The paper calls for urgent reforms: strengthening legal frameworks, clarifying institutional roles, investing in workforce capacity, improving data systems, and elevating environmental health in national policy. Without decisive action, Nigeria cannot achieve SDG 3, 6, and 11 or protect its population from preventable environmental diseases.

Keywords: Environmental health, governance, Nigeria, public policy, public utilities, health systems.