- …commissions West Africa’s first PCB treatment facility
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability, public health protection, and compliance with global environmental obligations with the commissioning of West Africa’s first and Africa’s second Polychlorinated Biphenyls treatment facility in Abuja.
This comes as the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, disclosed plans to approach the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the replication of the facility across all six geopolitical zones, describing the project as critical to public health protection and environmental security.
The project, which began seven years ago, was funded through a $6.3 million grant from the Global Environment Facility, with the Federal Government providing about $12.2 million in counterpart funding, bringing the total cost to approximately $18.5 million.
The initiative aims to eliminate environmental and health risks associated with PCBs in electrical equipment nationwide by safely disposing of about 8,000 tonnes of contaminated oil and equipment.
Speaking at the commissioning on Thursday at the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHETSCO) in Abuja, Lawal described the facility as a major milestone in Nigeria’s environmental governance and said a proposal would be presented to the FEC to decentralise PCB treatment nationwide.
“I am willing to take this to the Federal Executive Council to explore the possibility of having one facility in each of the six geopolitical zones,” he said.
Lawal explained that PCBs are highly toxic pollutants linked to cancer, reproductive disorders, and long-term ecosystem damage through contamination of soil, water, and food systems.
He said the facility demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and strengthens national capacity to manage hazardous waste, protect workers and host communities, and support green jobs and sustainable development.
The Minister added that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reflects the administration’s commitment to completing beneficial inherited projects.
He attributed the project’s success to collaboration among the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Federal Ministry of Environment, and other stakeholders, citing outcomes such as improved regulation, operator training, national inventories, treatment infrastructure, and public awareness.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, described the facility as a milestone in eliminating persistent organic pollutants, noting that legacy electrical equipment still poses serious health risks.
Represented by a Deputy Director at the Ministry, the Minister, who said prior to the PCB ban in the 1970s and 1980s, electrical equipment such as transformers and capacitors commonly contained PCBs, however, noted that legacy equipment and contaminated oils still in use or storage pose serious public and occupational health risks.
“The facility provides a nationally accessible, compliant solution for safe destruction of stockpiled PCB waste, fulfilling Nigeria’s obligations under the Stockholm Convention and supporting sustainable environmental practices in the power sector,” he said.
He urged all relevant agencies to ensure the facility’s optimal and safe operation, enhancing national capacity for hazardous waste management.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, said the facility strengthens chemical and waste management systems and will improve public health outcomes.
Represented by Dr Olufowobi Yusuf Adeola, Pate said the project would improve public health outcomes and reduce environmental risks.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh (SAN), said SHETSCO has supported the project from inception, providing a laboratory within the Chemistry Advanced Research Center and engineering support for proper maintenance.
The Minister, who was represented by the Acting Director General of SHETSCO, Dr Abayomi Orishadipe, assured, “We have a lot of capability for proper maintenance of the facility, so we are committed to continued collaboration with the PCB project, as we recognise its importance in making the environment safe and sustainable.”
UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, said the facility positions Nigeria as a regional leader in hazardous waste management while creating opportunities for skills development, technology transfer, and job creation.
She stressed that sustained political commitment and inter-agency coordination would be required to ensure long-term success.
Noting that the facility is equipped with dehalogenation and decontamination technologies that meet international standards, she said it underscores Nigeria’s emergence as a regional model for hazardous waste management in West Africa.
She added that the project also creates economic and human capital opportunities through skills development, technology transfer, and improved industrial compliance.
Director and UNIDO Representative, Ambassador Philbert Johnson, represented by National Programme Officer, Dr. Osuji Inya Otu, said PCBs are toxic and persistent chemicals whose accumulation poses serious health and environmental risks.
He said UNIDO, working with the Nigerian government and stakeholders, supports effective PCB management, circular economy practices, and sustainable energy initiatives under its 2024–2038 country programme.
On his part, Etsu Kwali, Luka Ayedo Nizassan III, said the facility’s completion showed Nigeria is working and expressed confidence in its sustainability due to available local expertise
Experts explained that the facility’s dehalogenation, regeneration, and decontamination systems prevent PCBs from contaminating soil and food chains, reducing long-term health risks.
The facility operates three systems that neutralise contaminated oil, restore it for reuse, and safely treat end-of-life transformers. Experts said proper treatment prevents PCBs from entering the food chain and reduces long term health risks associated with exposure.
