The Federal Government has begun moves to accelerate the reduction in emissions of Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (F-gases) and Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) in the country.
    
Nigeria has shown strong leadership in ODS phase-out, and fluorinated gas phase-out presents both climate and economic opportunities, which continued partnership with the government, the private sector, and international partners is key to achieving sustainability.
  
The government met with other stakeholders during a workshop in Abuja organised by the National Ozone Office and SRADeV Nigeria, with the support of the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), UK.
   
F-gases and ODS are potent, human-made greenhouse gases that significantly contribute to global warming when released into the atmosphere, often with a warming potential thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide (CO₂).
    
Nigeria is an active signatory to the Montreal Protocol, the project main goal is to accelerate Nigeria’s commitments to phasing out ODS, especially as Nigeria advances into stage III (phase out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons HCFCs) and other fluorinated gases in the refrigeration and air conditioning cooling sector, in line with the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol.
  
 NESREA Director General, Dr Innocent Barikor, said the workshop was in line with Nigeria’s commitment to environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation, and the global efforts under the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment.
  
Barikor stressed that Nigeria and development partners are meant to phase out harmful substances that contribute to ozone depletion and global warming, as well as lead the agency to environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement in the country.
 
According to him, they will remain committed to implementing policies and regulations that will safeguard our environment from pollutants, including F-gases and ODS.
   
“The need for innovative technologies, strengthened regulatory frameworks, public awareness, and private-sector participation in the transition to environmentally friendly alternatives cannot be overemphasised,” he remarked.
 
Chairman of the Workshop, Prof. Olugbenga Alo, said Nigeria remains dedicated to providing the necessary technical and regulatory support to ensure it meets its obligations under international environmental treaties, while also fostering economic and social development.
   
Also, Executive Director of SRADeV Nigeria, and workshop Convener, Dr Leslie Adogame, expressed delight that collaborating with relevant ministries, agencies, and development partners has continued to promote cleaner and more sustainable environmental practices across various sectors.
   
He said the workshop presents a critical platform to deliberate on practical solutions, share best practices, and accelerate implementation strategies towards reducing these harmful emissions. “The actions we take now will have lasting impacts on public health, environmental resilience, and the sustainability of our planet. Together, we can advance a cleaner, healthier, and more climate-resilient Nigeria,” Adogame added.
  
Giving the current situation of fluorinated gases and ODS reduction in Nigeria, the Director, National Ozone Office, Idris Abdullahi, highlighted what the Federal Government has done to reduce the substances in line with the Kigali Pact, such as the training of technicians for effective control of HFC importation.
  
Abdullah, who was represented by Kelechi Mbah, said they carried out the transition of companies to non-HFC technologies; linked energy efficiency to cooling equipment standards and participated in the African cooling initiative and super-efficient appliance aggregation projects.
  
Contributing, Mr Oluyomi Banjo of UNIDO, hinted that they are planning to train 10,000 technicians, who would carry out the processes of phasing down the dangerous substances based on the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali amendment, as technology is gradually changing, and from policy to actions.
  
On its mitigation and adaptation of F-gases and ODS, Banjo said they are targeting a 0.5 degree Celsius temperature to meet the Paris Agreement, and Nigeria has been complying with the pact.
  
“Before, we have been going to the manufacturers and working with them, but now we want to go to the customers. A new phase is beginning, and there will be an exchange of old products for the new technology by working with the government to achieve this,” he explained.
 
The Chairman, Women Environmental Programme (WEP), Dr Priscilla Achakpa, narrated how heat waves are affecting both male and female reproductive organs in Northern states.

Achakpa observed that in regions hit hardest by heat, there has been wage gap for women, who already earn 20 per cent less than men, explaining, “Female-headed households lose significantly more of their incomes than male-headed households in the face of extreme weather reduction in the total incomes of female-headed households relative to male headed households, translating into an yearly income gap of 8 per cent due to heat events.”
  
Programme Officer of SRADeV Nigeria, Jeremiah Ato, said capacity building and awareness creation would enhance technical knowledge and skills among stakeholders.
   
He explained that the project will bring about an increased public and industry awareness of the impact of HFCs and fluorinated gases on climate change and ozone depletion, and the dissemination of technical materials to improve compliance and advocacy efforts.
   
Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change, Yussuf Kelani, regretted that over 80 per cent of the population does not understand the language of climate change, and Lagos is under serious threat.