Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA has welcomed the commissioning of Nigeria’s first dedicated Polychlorinated Biphenyls, PCBs treatment facility, describing it as a major milestone in the country’s chemicals and hazardous waste management efforts.
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 in Abuja on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
In a statement, CAPPA said the commissioning represents a critical infrastructure achievement within Nigeria’s national framework for managing toxic chemicals and wastes.
Polychlorinated biphenyls are classified as persistent organic pollutants known for their high toxicity, environmental persistence and ability to bioaccumulate in living organisms.
Scientific evidence links PCBs to cancer, endocrine disruption, immunotoxicity, neurodevelopmental damage, reproductive disorders and severe harm to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Improper handling or disposal of PCB-containing materials can lead to widespread contamination of soil, water sources and the food chain, posing serious public health risks.
CAPPA noted that Nigeria, as a signatory to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, is legally obligated to eliminate the use of PCBs, identify and label PCB-containing equipment, and ensure their environmentally sound management and final disposal.
The organisation stated that the commissioning of the treatment facility demonstrates Nigeria’s compliance with its international treaty obligations and its domestic regulatory framework under the National Environmental (PCBs Control and Disposal) Regulations, 2020.
Commenting on the development, the Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the establishment of the facility validates the intent of the PCBs Control and Disposal Regulations and signals the Federal Government’s readiness to operationalise environmentally sound systems for hazardous chemical waste management.
According to him, the facility will enhance national capacity for the treatment, decontamination and final disposal of PCB-containing equipment and wastes, reduce occupational exposure, prevent environmental releases and mitigate long-term public health risks.
However, Oluwafemi stressed the need for the Federal Government to ensure full compliance with all provisions of the Regulations, including strict controls on the manufacture, importation, storage, transportation, use, discharge and disposal of PCBs and PCB-containing products.
He also called for robust inventory development, monitoring, reporting and enforcement mechanisms, including sanctions, to guarantee effective implementation nationwide.
Oluwafemi further urged the Federal Government to prioritise the scaling up, sustained investment, technical upgrades and long-term operational sustainability of the facility, noting that adequate funding and skilled personnel are essential to meeting national PCB phase-out targets and realising the environmental and socio-economic benefits associated with the project.
CAPPA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting environmental governance, chemical safety and public participation, and to engaging relevant stakeholders to support Nigeria’s transition towards the complete elimination of PCBs in an environmentally sound and socially responsible manner.