Background
The established GRC laboratory is one of the main outputs of the GEF/UNIDO/Ghana-Nigeria Regional project to develop appropriate strategies for identifying sites contaminated by chemicals listed in Annexes A, B and/or C of the Stockholm Convention. Under this output of the project on capacity building, it was planned to upgrade existing institution in the areas of contaminated sites identification, environmentally sustainable management of identified POPs contaminated sites and development of cost effective and environmentally friendly remediation technologies. UNIDO started the process of refurbishing of the laboratory in September 2010 through a local contractor to install the necessary infrastructure to operate a state of the art analytical laboratory
Established with Funding from:
GEF/UNIDO/Ghana/Nigeria Regional Project on POPs contaminated Sites
Year established
2010
Available facilities/Equipment
Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) GC System 7890A, MS Agilent 5975C series with triple axis detector
Gas Chromatography–Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) (Agilent 7890A series)
Personnel
Dr. Adebola Adeyi
Mrs. Hafsat Yekini
Ms. Olarinre Amusan
Nature of Samples analyzed
1. Physio Chemical Parameters
2. Persisitent Orgaic Pollutants: (Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), Polybrominated diphenyls ethers (PBDE), Organo-Chlorine Pesticides.
3. Emmerging Organic Pollutants: Bisphenol-A (BPA), Tallate Esters, Octylphenol.
Capacity building efforts/Projects handled
1. Training of Experts from Arab speaking Countries on the Analysis of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Environmental Samples; Nigeria 26th October-5th November, 2015
Following the need to demonstrate South-South Cooperation through scientific knowledge sharing on a special group of highly toxic chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), The Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Africa Region in Nigeria (BCCC-Nigeria) in conjunction with the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Arab states (BCCC-Egypt) organized a 10 (ten)-day training workshop for 8 participants from 5 (five) different Arab countries, namely: Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan and Tunisia on the Analysis of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Environmental Samples; Nigeria 26th October-5th November, 2015.
The Workshop’s aim was at enhancing and strengthening participants’ knowledge in:
- The areas of POPs analysis and Management
- General Laboratory hands-on experience with emphasis on POPs Analysis
- Identification and assessment of POPs contaminated sites
- Introduction to UNIDO POPs contaminated site toolkit
- Train-the trainer capacity building on POPs and other chemicals
- Laboratory report writing
2. Niger-Delta, Nigeria clean -up
At the request of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, UNEP conducted an independent assessment of the environment and public health impacts of oil contamination in Ogoni land, in the Niger Delta, and options for remediation.
Following preparatory consultations, UNEP presented a proposal (including work plans and budgets) to the Nigerian Government in January 2007 for a two-phase project:
1. A comprehensive Environmental Assessment of Ogoni land, and
2. An environmental clean-up to follow, based on the assessment and subsequent planning and decisions.
Following this assessment, options for remediation were recommended. Some of the materials for the remediation process are being tested and analysed at the Geo-Environmental Research Centre (GRC) Laboratory, University of Ibadan on the directive of the Federal Ministry of Environment, to determine the effectiveness and the toxicological properties of the proposed materials for the clean – up and remediation exercises.
3. Development of UNIDO toolkit on POPs contaminated site identification and assessment
This was also one of the main outputs of the GEF/UNIDO/Ghana-Nigeria Regional project to develop appropriate strategies for identifying sites contaminated by chemicals listed in Annexes A, B and/or C of the Stockholm Convention. The Toolkit aim to aid developing countries with the identification, classification and prioritization of POP-contaminated sites, and with the development of suitable technologies for land remediation in accordance with best available techniques and best environmental practices (BAT/BEP). The Toolkit was first adopted in Ghana and Nigeria as part of UNIDO's regional project on the development of strategies for identifying sites contaminated by chemicals listed in Annexes A, B and C of the Stockholm Convention. The Toolkit will be used both as a training tool and as a self-directed manual and resource document for decision-makers, practitioners and a range of other stakeholders. It is envisioned that the Toolkit may eventually be used throughout the whole African region and in developing countries in other parts of the world
The GRC laboratory was fully involved in the development of the UNIDO POPs contaminated site toolkit in 2010-2011 and subsequent train-the -trainers Programme in 2013. All the samples collected during the training were analyzed in the laboratory.
4. Capacity Building including , Research and Development Activities
Students on internship, industrial attachment and research students from different departments in and outside the University of Ibadan have been on attachment in the laboratory. Overseas students from and outside the Africa region are also welcome.
5. UNEP Bi-ennial Global Interlaboratory Assessment on POPs
The laboratory fully participated in the bi-ennial global Interlaboratory assessment on POPs, 3rd round, in 2015-2016 and another round in 2018.
The GRC is well suited and ready with all the necessary facilities in terms of analytical procedures and capacity building to participate in the proposed Ogoni oil contaminated land clean-up. We have the knowledge and expertise to make a land mark impact in the clean-up of Ogoni land.