Ministry, UNEP Sign MoU For Chemical Management

The Federal Ministry of Environment has signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the UNEP “to establish an enduring institutional framework and to strengthen sound chemical management in Nigeria”.

The Minster of Environment, Mrs Hadiza Malafia, made the disclosure in Abuja at the inauguration of two committees, the Committee of the National Chemical Management (NCCM) and the Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC).

According to her, NCCM comprises five ministries: the Federal Ministries of Environment, Health, Agriculture, Labour, Trade and Investment as well as the academia, civil society, research institutions and professional bodies, while the TCC is made up of 25 members.

She noted that it would be a standing advisory committee to the Federal Government, responsible for the promotion and coordination of coherent, continuous and cost-efficient approach to chemical safety and management.

Mailafia said that the NCCM was also co-charged with the responsibility of protecting the environment, human and animal health in the country, adding that it would be co-chaired by the permanent secretaries in the Federal Ministries of Environment and Health.

She said that the committees were created to integrate, harmonise and coordinate sound chemical management in the country.

The Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Agriculture, Trade and Investment and Labour, she said, would co-chair NCCM while the Vice Chairmanship position would be rotated among Federal Minstries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Trade and Investment and Labour.

On the TCC, Mailafia said it had the mandate to advise the NCCM on how to achieve cooperation and coordination on chemical management, pointing out that membership consist of one representative of each party to the MoU not below grade level 14.

She said that the TCC would be co-chaired by directors in charge of chemical management in the Federal Ministries of Environment and Health.

The minister stressed the need for sound management of chemicals for the nation to achieve sustainable development, including the eradication of poverty and diseases.

“The government of Nigeria recognises the importance of sound management of chemicals for sustainable development and has been a very active player occupying key leadership positions within the international chemicals management,’’ mailafia stated.