EHCON Unveils Digital Data Centre To Revolutionize Environmental Health Management
By Zeniat Abubakar Abuja
The Nigerian government has unveils a state-of-the-art Electronic Data Centre, by the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) to modernised environmental health services across the country.
The facility, inaugurated by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, represents a significant stride toward efficient service delivery, cost reduction, and digital transformation in public administration.
Speaking at the event on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, the Minister emphasized that the Data Centre aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes innovative governance.
The Minister says the Centre is designed to enhance data-driven decision-making, improve service delivery, and ensure transparency in environmental health management.
“We recognize the critical role of technology and data in achieving our goals, and we are committed to supporting platforms such as this that empower institutions like EHCON to thrive. It is also important to acknowledge the need for inclusive action. Our vision for environmental sustainability requires the collective efforts of government agencies, private sector actors, civil society, and every Nigerian citizen.”
“This Data Centre is not just a tool for EHCON it is a resource for the nation, designed to support all stakeholders in making informed decisions that safeguard our environment and promote public health.”He said.
According to the Minister, “The Centre will provide a centralized platform to gather, store, and manage environmental health data, ensuring that stakeholders across all levels-Federal, state, and local government have access to reliable and up-to-date information.
“Real-Time Monitoring and Early Warning Systems: With enhanced data analytics capabilities, the Centre will enable us to monitor environmental conditions in real time, identify emerging threats, and deploy early warning systems to prevent crises.”
Mr Balarabe also noted that Federal Ministry of Environment is committed to strengthening Agency collaboration with the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria to boost its capacity of providing quality services to clients as well as, provide effective and efficient control of its records.
“The Ministry is poised to ensuring the total digitalization of processes of all its agencies with a view to entrenching smooth and seamless communication with all stakeholders in the environment sector.” He said.
EHCON’s Registrar, Dr Yakubu Mohammed Baba, described the project as a “child of necessity,” highlighting its potential to reduce bureaucratic delays and improve workflow efficiency.
He noted that the platform will allow civil servants to process documents, review files, and collaborate seamlessly from any location.
“For practitioners and organizations, registration and license renewal—processes that once took weeks—can now be completed within 24 to 48 hours, all from the comfort of their homes.” He said.
According to the Registrar “We are looking at a situation whereby we are coming up with an App that our practitioners will subscribe through their phone and we can also, at that point create opportunity for Nigerians to report any environmental abuse, and we promise that if you report an environmental abuse within a period of less than five minutes, we can be able to activate an officer who is very close to where they abuse and you can go inspect, assess and also take the media action and report back to the digital center, this is the dream we have and this is the dream we will achieve.“
The National Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Mr Abdulhamid Umar, commended the project as a model for federal-state collaboration, with support from 19 northern states, the FCT, and the World Bank.
While commending the EHCON’s leadership he also urged sustained management of the investment for future generations.
According to him, “the initiative also includes plans to integrate distance learning modules and produce security documents for other agencies to generate revenue. “
WHO Nigeria’s National Technical Officer for Public Health and Environment, Dr. Edwin Isotu, said that the project will serve as a transformative step toward accelerating service delivery, reducing bureaucratic backlogs, and addressing climate change challenges.
He noted that its potential to unlock value chains, improve health outcomes, create jobs, and support Nigeria’s climate commitments.
The launch marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward environmental sustainability, with the Centre positioned as a rallying point for national data integration, real-time monitoring, and policy formulation.
The initiative, also aligns with the Federal Government’s broader environmental agenda, which
prioritizes sustainable practices, climate resilience, and public health.
Oyenike Oyeniyi
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