Nigeria's air pollution crisis has taken on new urgency after the country was ranked the third most polluted in Africa in the 2025 World Air Quality Report, according to Leadership. In response, the federal government announced plans to tighten controls on vehicle and generator emissions, two major sources of air pollution. Officials said the ranking underscored the urgent need for coordinated national action to address worsening air quality and protect public health across the country.

Experts have called on the Federal Government to enhance the implementation of clean cooking policies and increase investment in electric cooking. They warn that millions of households continue to depend on polluting fuels, which pose risks to public health, contribute to climate change, and worsen poverty.

Gas flaring in Rivers State communities has been associated with increased rates of childhood deaths and respiratory diseases, highlighting the human cost of this environmental pollution, according to Punch.

Africa receives only 23% of the climate finance it needs and pays too much for what it does get, according to The Conversation Africa. African countries have committed under the 2015 Paris Agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions and protect their populations from worsening climate impacts, requiring billions for clean energy and resilient agriculture, water systems and infrastructure. However, the continent received an average of just US$43.7 billion a year, falling far short of requirements.

The World Meteorological Organization has warned that wildfire smoke is undermining progress toward cleaner air worldwide, according to Eastleigh Voice. Fine particles from smoke can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, raising the risk of serious health problems. The report links deteriorating air quality to wildfire pollution rather than emissions trends alone, presenting it as a global environmental and public health concern requiring continued monitoring.

Stakeholders in Nigeria's climate, energy, and development sectors are working to launch an 80 million clean cookstoves program. This initiative aims to reduce household air pollution, curb deforestation, expand access to clean energy, and create economic opportunities for millions of Nigerians. The program is being led by Greenplinth Africa Limited under the theme, "Clean Cooking Access."