Photo: CAPPA Executive Director, Oluwafemi Akinbode
By: Mandy Park
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has commended the Federal Government for commissioning Nigeria’s first dedicated Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) treatment facility in Abuja, describing it as a major milestone in the country’s chemicals and waste management framework.
The facility, established under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was inaugurated on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
In a statement issued on Monday, CAPPA noted that the commissioning of the facility represents a critical step towards strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to manage hazardous chemicals and comply with international environmental obligations.
Polychlorinated biphenyls are persistent organic pollutants known for their high toxicity, environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and ability to travel long distances in the environment.
Scientific evidence links PCBs to cancer, endocrine disruption, immunotoxicity, neurodevelopmental impairment, and reproductive disorders, as well as severe damage to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Improper handling or disposal of PCBs, the organisation warned, can lead to extensive contamination of soil, water sources, and the food chain, posing serious risks to public health and ecological sustainability.
CAPPA recalled that Nigeria, as a Party to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, is legally bound to eliminate the use of PCBs, identify and label PCB-containing equipment, and ensure their environmentally sound management and final disposal.
According to the group, the commissioning of the treatment facility demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to meeting its international treaty obligations and implementing its domestic regulatory framework, particularly the National Environmental (PCBs Control and Disposal) Regulations, 2020.
Commenting on the development, CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the facility “validates the spirit of the National Environmental (PCBs Control and Disposal) Regulations, 2020, and signals the Federal Government’s readiness to operationalise environmentally sound management systems for hazardous chemical wastes in Nigeria.”
He noted that the facility would enhance national capacity for the treatment, decontamination, and final disposal of PCB-containing equipment and wastes, while also reducing occupational exposure, preventing environmental pollution, and mitigating long-term public health risks.
However, Oluwafemi stressed the need for the Federal Government to ensure comprehensive compliance with all provisions of the Regulations.
He called for strict controls on the manufacture, importation, distribution, use, storage, transportation, discharge, and disposal of PCBs and PCB-containing products, alongside the development of robust inventory systems, monitoring and reporting mechanisms, effective enforcement, and appropriate sanctions.
The CAPPA executive director further urged the government to prioritise scaling up the facility through sustained investment, technical upgrades, and long-term operational planning.
He emphasised that adequate funding and skilled personnel are essential to achieving national PCB phase-out targets and maximising the environmental and socio-economic benefits of the initiative.
CAPPA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting environmental governance, chemical safety, and public participation, and pledged continued engagement with relevant stakeholders to support Nigeria’s transition towards the complete and environmentally sound elimination of PCBs.
