The Federal Ministry of Environment today officially commissioned the Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Treatment Facility at the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO).
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, described the facility established with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Environmentally Sound Management and Disposal of PCBs Project — as a milestone in Nigeria’s commitment to environmental protection and public health.
In his keynote address, Minister Lawal emphasized the serious health and ecological risks posed by PCBs, including cancer, reproductive disorders and long-term contamination of soil, water and food systems. He stressed Nigeria’s obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and said the new treatment capacity demonstrates the country’s resolve to manage and eliminate PCBs in an environmentally sound manner.
Key achievements under the project highlighted by the Minister include:
Development of policies and guidelines to strengthen chemicals and waste regulation;Training of government agencies and private operators in safe handling, storage and transport of PCB-contaminated materials;National inventories of PCBs to inform evidence-based decision-making;Establishment of the dedicated PCB treatment facility at SHETSCO; andPublic awareness campaigns through workshops and media.Minister Lawal noted that beyond decontamination and safe disposal, the facility will reduce health risks to workers and communities, prevent further environmental contamination, generate green jobs, and support Nigeria’s transition toward a circular economy and sustainable development.
He extended appreciation to GEF, UNDP, SHETSCO management, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, distribution companies, regulatory agencies, project partners, and local and traditional leaders for their collaboration.
The commissioning, he said, aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national environmental laws, and global Sustainable Development Goals.
The Minister formally commissioned the PCBs Treatment Facility, calling it a “beacon of sustainable development and environmental responsibility for generations to come.”
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