CAPPA Hails Nigeria’s First PCBs Treatment Facility, Calls for Enforcement and Expansion

CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi

The 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 waste management framework.

The facility, inaugurated on December 18, 2025, in Abuja, was 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).

In a statement issued on Monday, CAPPA said the facility represents a significant step towards addressing the long-standing challenge of managing hazardous chemical wastes in Nigeria, particularly persistent organic pollutants such as PCBs.

Polychlorinated biphenyls are toxic chemical substances known for their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and long-range transport. CAPPA noted that PCBs have been scientifically linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, immunotoxicity, neurodevelopmental impairment and reproductive disorders, while also posing serious threats to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Improper handling and disposal of PCBs, the group said, can result in widespread contamination of soil, water and the food chain.

The organisation recalled that Nigeria, as a signatory to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, is obligated to eliminate the use of PCBs, identify and label PCB-containing equipment, and ensure their environmentally sound management and disposal.

According to CAPPA, the commissioning of the treatment facility demonstrates Nigeria’s compliance with its international obligations as well as its domestic regulatory framework under the National Environmental (PCBs Control and Disposal) Regulations, 2020.

Commenting on the development, CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the facility validates the intent of the 2020 regulations and signals the Federal Government’s readiness to operationalise environmentally sound management systems for hazardous chemical wastes.

He said the facility would strengthen national capacity for the treatment, decontamination and final disposal of PCB-containing equipment and waste, while reducing occupational exposure, preventing environmental contamination and mitigating long-term public health risks.

However, Oluwafemi stressed the need for strict and comprehensive enforcement of the regulations governing PCBs. He called on the Federal Government to ensure robust controls over the manufacture, importation, distribution, storage, transportation and disposal of PCB-containing products, alongside effective monitoring, reporting and sanction mechanisms.

He also urged the government to prioritise the scaling up of the facility through sustained investment, technical upgrades and adequate staffing to ensure long-term operational sustainability and the achievement of national PCB phase-out targets.

CAPPA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting environmental governance, chemical safety and public participation, pledging continued engagement with stakeholders to support Nigeria’s transition towards the complete and environmentally sound elimination of PCBs.