By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening chemical and waste management across the country to protect public health and the environment, in line with global best practices.

This was made known recently in Abuja during the inception workshop of a special United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) project on strengthening Nigeria’s infrastructure and human capacity for sound chemicals and waste management. 

The project is being implemented by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in collaboration with UNEP.

The three-year initiative aims to bolster the capabilities of regulatory agencies, improve infrastructure, enhance collaboration among stakeholders, and develop effective chemical tracking systems. 

Key outcomes include the automation of chemical monitoring, development of national regulations and standards, and upgrading of environmental laboratories.

Speaking at the event, Director General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, represented by the agency’s Director of Inspection and Enforcement, Dr. Christopher Beka, said the project marks a major step toward safer chemical management in Nigeria.

He said, “Nigeria, as a rapidly industrialising nation, faces escalating risks from improper chemical and waste handling. From industrial effluents to e-waste and expired chemicals, the threats to public health and socio-economic stability are real.

“This project is not merely a response to these challenges; it is a proactive step toward building a resilient system that safeguards our people, ecosystems, and future generations.”

Barikor emphasized that the project aligns with global frameworks such as the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm, and Minamata Conventions, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable development.

He added, “The objectives are clear—strengthen our laws, improve infrastructure, build capacity, and promote collaboration across all levels of society. We must work with urgency and shared responsibility to protect future generations.”

Also speaking, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Lucian Chukwu, welcomed the initiative as a timely intervention to harmonise fragmented efforts in chemical and waste management across various agencies.

He said, “We need appropriate guidelines and standardised models. This project offers an opportunity to train individuals and institutions so they can cascade knowledge across sectors.”

In a related development, the UNEP-hosted Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform (CWYP) convened a virtual briefing to prepare young people for the upcoming 2025 UN negotiations on chemicals, waste, and pollution.

Zhanyun Wang, from the Secretariat of the Open-Ended Working Group on the Science-Policy Panel, said the session aimed to empower youth with knowledge on global chemical policy development.

“The youth need to understand the key issues and their role in driving change. This session is designed to equip them for active participation,” he said.

Global Focal Point for CWYP, Shannon Lisa, also stressed the importance of youth engagement, saying, “We are bringing young people together to help shape negotiations that affect their future.”

Head of UNEP’s Chemicals and Health Branch, Ludovic Bernaudat, called for inclusive efforts to tackle pollution.

He said, “Pollution is often invisible, but deeply harmful. Addressing it chemical by chemical hasn’t been effective. We need holistic solutions—rethinking production, promoting green chemicals, and encouraging circularity.

“Youth have a unique role—they communicate differently, innovate, and influence consumption patterns. They are key to ensuring change happens now, not tomorrow.”

The UNEP-backed project and youth engagement reflect Nigeria’s growing focus on building a safer, more sustainable future through stronger chemical and waste governance.