Despite the rising incidence of chemical poisoning, accidental toxic exposures, and the recent tragic snakebite fatality in Abuja, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria) has expressed concern over Nigeria’s continued failure to establish and activate functional Poison Centres and emergency case management intervention facilities across the country.
Nigeria, a nation of over 200 million people, currently has only one chemicals Poison Centre on record located within the Raw Materials and Research Development Council, Abuja, which itself remains largely unrecognised, under-resourced, and inaccessible to the general public.
According to SRADeV, this alarming gap in emergency public health infrastructure significantly worsens outcomes in poisoning cases from chemicals, food and other fatal poisoning where quick intervention often determine survival.
“It is very unfortunate that to date, Nigeria has only one ‘unrecognised’ poison centre and located very remote to the National hospital, Abuja or any medical facility. This is a mis-normal, unacceptable, and far below global public health standards for a country that have ratified and domesticated many international Chemical Conventions,” said Dr. Leslie Adogame, an environmental health expert and Executive Director, SRADeV Nigeria.
According to him, the lack of multiple, decentralised poison centres in Nigeria is not just a systemic oversight, it is a public health failure that continues to cost lives.
He stressed that, in emergency poisoning cases, uncertainty, delayed referrals, and lack of expert toxicological guidance can turn survivable incidents into fatal ones.
“Poison centres are globally recognised as first-line emergency response hubs for incidents involving chemical exposure, pesticide poisoning, drug overdoses, snake envenomation, and industrial accidents. Their absence at both federal and sub-national levels leaves healthcare providers, first responders, and citizens without timely guidance, referral pathways, or lifesaving information during emergencies.
“The recent snakebite incident occurring within an urban area of Abuja further underscores the urgency of this crisis. Poorly maintained environments, inadequate waste management, overgrown surroundings, and lack of routine fumigation have increased human exposure to venomous animals and toxic hazards even in cities presumed to be safer.”
Victor Fabunmi, Senior Public Health Officer, SRADeV Nigeria, submitted: “If snake envenomation can result in death within an urban setting, the situation in rural and peri-urban communities where access to emergency care is even more limited should deeply concern policymakers.”
SRADeV Nigeria also emphasised the critical need for public awareness and preparedness.
“Citizens must be equipped with clear, accessible information on what to do, where to go, and toll-free call details during poisoning or envenomation emergencies. Without public education and visible response systems, panic, misinformation, and delayed care will continue to worsen outcomes,” suggested the group..
SRADeV Nigeria therefore called on the Federal Government, State Governments, and relevant health and environmental authorities to take immediate and coordinated action to:
- Establish at least one functional poison centresat every state of the Federation.
- Integrate real-time poison emergency response systems into primary healthcare and emergency services
- Invest in public awareness campaigns on poisoning prevention and response.
- Improve urban and rural environmental management, including fumigation and sanitation across the Federation.
“This is not a new problem, it is a long-standing gap that requires urgent political will, investment, and accountability, as citizens lives depend on it,” said Dr Adogame.