Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has commended the Federal Government after commissioning the Nigeria’s first dedicated treatment facility for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), and considered as a landmark achievement for the nation’s environmental and public health sectors.
The facility, located in Abuja, was established through the Federal Ministry of Environment in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It was officially inaugurated on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
In a statement released today, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) described the facility as a critical milestone in Nigeria’s waste management framework. PCBs are highly toxic persistent organic pollutants linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, and reproductive disorders. Because they do not break down easily, these chemicals pose a long-term threat to soil, water, and the food chain.
As a signatory to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Nigeria is required to eliminate the use of PCBs in industrial equipment and ensure their environmentally sound disposal.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA, said the facility demonstrates the government’s commitment to its international and domestic legal obligations.
“The commissioning of this treatment facility validates the spirit of the National Environmental Regulations of 2020 and signals the Federal Government’s readiness to operationalise environmentally sound management systems for hazardous chemical wastes in Nigeria,” Oluwafemi said.
He noted that the infrastructure will strengthen the country’s ability to decontaminate equipment, thereby reducing occupational exposure and preventing accidental environmental releases.
However, the organization cautioned that the existence of the facility is only the first step. CAPPA is calling on the government to ensure strict enforcement of the PCBs Control and Disposal Regulations 2020. This includes tighter controls on the importation, storage, and transportation of hazardous chemicals, as well as the implementation of sanctions for non-compliance.
The group also urged the government to prioritize sustained investment and technical upgrades to ensure the facility remains operational and capable of meeting national phase-out targets.
CAPPA concluded by reaffirming its commitment to monitoring the transition toward a PCB-free Nigeria, emphasizing that adequate funding and skilled personnel remain essential to the long-term success of the project.
