By Abigael Joshua
Abuja, Dec. 18, 2025 (NAN) – In a landmark move for environmental governance in West Africa, the Federal Government of Nigeria has officially commissioned the nation’s first dedicated Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Treatment Facility. This state-of-the-art centre, located within the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) in Abuja, represents a critical component of a national strategy to eliminate one of the most persistent and toxic classes of chemicals ever manufactured, thereby safeguarding public health and ecosystems.
Malam Balarabe Lawal, the Minister of Environment, framed the unveiling as a definitive statement of national commitment. “This facility is a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s dedication to environmental sustainability and public health protection,” he stated, “aligning with our national development priorities and our binding global obligations under international treaties.”
The Invisible Threat: Understanding PCBs and POPs
To appreciate the facility’s significance, one must understand the adversary. As reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), PCBs are man-made organic chemicals classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Valued throughout the mid-20th century for their chemical stability, electrical insulation, and fire-resistant properties, they were ubiquitous in electrical transformers, capacitors, paints, plastics, and carbon paper.
However, this stability became their curse. PCBs do not break down easily in the environment; they persist for decades, accumulating in soil, water, and the food chain. Their toxicity led to a widespread ban in the 1970s. “PCBs are highly hazardous pollutants that pose serious risks to human health, biodiversity, and the entire environment,” Minister Lawal explained. “When improperly handled, they can cause severe illnesses such as cancer, reproductive disorders, and long-term damage to ecosystems.” Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, added that documented links include “endocrine disruption, neurodevelopmental disorders, and other adverse health outcomes,” particularly affecting vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women.
More Than a Facility: A Pillar of National and Regional Strategy
The SHESTCO facility is the product of a strategic collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), implemented through the ‘Environmentally Sound Management and Disposal of PCBs Project in Nigeria.’
Mrs. Elsie Attafuah, UNDP Resident Representative, highlighted its pioneering status: “This is Nigeria’s first and West Africa’s first-ever PCBs treatment facility.” She positioned it as a “strategic investment in Nigeria’s future,” that establishes the country as a regional leader in hazardous waste management.
Minister Lawal emphasized its multifaceted role: “This facility is more than a technical installation; it represents a major advancement in Nigeria’s capacity to manage hazardous materials domestically.” By enabling the on-site decontamination of PCB-laden oils and equipment, it prevents the environmentally devastating practice of improper dumping or open burning, which releases toxic fumes.
Tangible Benefits: From Health to Economy
The commissioning speeches outlined a cascade of benefits:
- Public Health Protection: Directly reducing exposure pathways that lead to chronic diseases, thereby lowering future public health burdens.
- Environmental Remediation: Preventing further contamination of soil, water, and food systems. Mrs. Agnes Aneke, GEF Operational Focal Point, noted it would help “restore Nigeria’s ecosystem.”
- Green Job Creation & Circular Economy: The facility requires skilled technicians, engineers, and waste management specialists. “This is a direct pathway to generating more green jobs,” Lawal said, “driving Nigeria’s broader transition towards a circular economy.”
- Treaty Compliance: It fulfills Nigeria’s obligations under the Stockholm Convention on POPs, which mandates the environmentally sound elimination of these chemicals.
Future Expansion and Sustained Commitment
Recognizing the scale of the challenge, Mrs. Bahijjahtu Abubakar, Director of the Department of Pollution Control, announced plans for replication. “The ministry will replicate the facility in the six geo-political zones of the country,” she stated, acknowledging that a single centre cannot handle the national inventory of contaminated transformers and waste oils.
Local stewardship was also assured. Etsu Kwali, Luka Ayedo Nizassan III, expressed satisfaction and pledged to support the maintenance and sustainability of the facility within his domain. Dr. Abayomi Orishadipe, Acting Director-General of SHESTCO, reinforced this, citing the complex’s “capability for proper maintenance” and readiness for continued collaboration.
The commissioning of the PCBs Treatment Facility marks a decisive shift from problem identification to solution implementation. It moves Nigeria from being a victim of legacy pollution to an active manager of its environmental destiny, setting a precedent for technological self-reliance and regional leadership in the critical field of toxic waste management.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
AIJ/SH
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Edited by Sadiya Hamza
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