EPA Deputy CEO recalls final conversation with late Murtala Mohammed ahead of UN plastics negotiations

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof. Michael Ayamga, has described the death of former Environment Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed as a deeply painful personal loss, recalling their final conversation shortly before the helicopter crash that claimed his life. Ayamga said Dr Murtala Mohammed was not only a colleague but also a close friend with whom he shared an open and honest relationship.

Speaking during reflections on the first anniversary of the August 6, 2025 military helicopter crash, he recalled that their last conversation took place while he was in Geneva preparing for an International Negotiating Committee meeting on a legally binding global agreement to address plastic pollution. He said Dr Murtala Mohammed, who was passionate about tackling the global plastics challenge, was expected to join the discussions. “I remember exactly the day before the event, I had a call from him.

I was in Geneva waiting for him to join us at the International Negotiating Committee — an internationally binding revolution on plastics, which was very dear to his heart,” Prof. He recalled that during their conversation, they joked about travelling to France for food after the negotiations. “He said if he gets around, we could cross over to France to get good food, some Chinese restaurants were cheaper, and I was making fun of him.

I didn’t know that was going to be the last time,” he said. Ayamga said although efforts have been made to cope with the loss, the pain remains fresh, especially during moments of remembrance and visits to the family. He paid tribute to Dr Murtala Mohammed’s wife, whom he described as a strong woman carrying the weight of the loss while raising their children.

“Any time I pay a visit to the family, I feel it. I look at the kids and sometimes I just leave the house and go back to meet my wife and kids. They don’t have that opportunity,” he said.

He added that the late minister’s contribution to public service and his personal relationship with colleagues made his absence difficult to accept. Ayamga said Dr Murtala Mohammed was one of the few people he could speak to frankly, adding that the late minister valued honesty and constructive criticism. He revealed that Dr Murtala Mohammed had once encouraged him to work closely with him because he wante…