The burden of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) has continued to pose threat to human health, environment and sustainable livelihoods in Nigeria. In this report, ETTA MICHAEL BISONG examines the Annex A, B and C, Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention with the view of proffering solution to mitigate the impacts of POPs in the country.
Persistent organic pollutants, famously referred to as POPs are toxic chemicals that are globally acknowledged as having harmful effects on human health and the environment. Because chemicals such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and dioxins can be transported through wind, water, industrial waste and as well as other sources such as farming activity, most POPs generated in one country can and do affect people and wildlife far from where they are used and released.
Another alarming thing about these sinister pollutants is that they linger over long periods of time in the environment and can accumulate and pass from one species to the next. For instance, when organic pollutants such as mercury get into water bodies, they pollute the water and lead to contaminated fish and health problems for organisms that eat the fish. Children are not immune from this environmental epidemic as they could also be exposed through breast feeding, if mothers have had exposure to these organic pollutants.
The dynamic nature of these chemicals and threats on human livelihoods and sustainable growth has again reinforced the need for global action against environment challenges. Just like the intervention of the air plane, rail and automobile to change the cause of movement in human history, although emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that contribute to the problem of climate change, chemicals are produced to satisfy certain human needs in society.
Many POPs were widely used during the boom in industrial production after World War II, when thousands of synthetic chemicals were introduced into commercial use. Many of these chemicals proved beneficial in pest and disease control, crop production, and industry.
Intentionally and unintentionally produced chemicals are either currently or once used in agriculture, disease control, manufacturing, or industrial processes. Examples include PCBs, which have been useful in a variety of industrial applications and DDT, which is still used to control mosquitoes that carry malaria in some parts of the world.
According to a survey conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2005 on the Cost of inaction for Sound Management of Chemicals (SMC) in Nigeria, in which the cost of injury to farm workers on small land holdings due to POP-Pesticide Poisoning was estimated at five hundred and ninety million, four hundred and eighty thousand dollars (USD94. 48 billion).
The findings revealed that the cost of poisonings from pesticides in Nigeria now exceeds the total annual overseas development aid given to the country for basic health services, excluding HIV/AIDS.
To address this global concern, Nigeria in 2004 joined forces with other member countries to ratify the groundbreaking United Nations treaty on POPs management that was adopted in Stockholm, Sweden, in May 2001. Under the treaty, known as the Stockholm Convention, countries agreed to reduce or eliminate the production, use, and release of 12 key POPs, and specified under the Convention a scientific review process that has led to the addition of other POPs chemicals of global concern.
The Convention no doubt has played a prominent role in the control of harmful chemicals and added an important dimension to Nigeria’s national and regional efforts to control POPs. For instance, deliberate efforts of the Ministry of Environment at developing the first NIP in 2007 with multi-stakeholders’ participation, which documented the national status, gaps and interventional policy thrusts for addressing POPs management issues enabled Nigeria access international supports for executing priority projects. These programmes have significantly reduced the release of dioxins and furans to land, air, and water from Nigeria sources.
Consequent upon the amendment of A, B and C to the Stockholm C of the Stockholm Convention in 2008 & 2011, the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam said it has become obligatory for Convention Parties like Nigeria to review, update and endorse their original NIPs and transmit same to the Secretariat, in line with Article 7 of the Convention.
The minister hinted that when completed, the NIP review and update Project will further enable Nigeria attract support for Chemicals and POPs Management Activities under GEF-6 Project Cycle.
She explained that in order to address these challenges and achieve the overall objective of the Convention, her Ministry has identified and brought on board people of proven integrity, who have distinguished themselves in their chosen field and represent various sectors, to make up the Project Steering Committee.
‘’I have no doubt in my mind that this Committee Members will demonstrate a high sense of national patriotism, integrity and responsibility towards achieving the project set goals,’’ Mrs. Mallam said.
Similarly, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, UNIDO Country Representative and Regional Director for West Africa applauded the gesture demonstrated by the Nigerian government towards ensuring an institutional framework to achieve the objective of the Stockholm Convention.
Dr. Karmawa disclosed that UNIDO have watched and worked closely with the government of Nigeria in reducing these chemical called POPs and also taken initiatives that will eventually eliminate their production, use, distribution, storage and releases to the environment.
‘’I will therefore like to take this opportunity to commend the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Environment towards putting structures in making our environment a safer place to live,’’ he said. ‘’I hope this committee which has been carefully selected and comprises of a vast wealth of experience in environmental and chemicals management will coordinate the activities of the project towards achieving its said objectives.’’
In conclusion, many of the POPs listed in the Stockholm Convention are no longer produced in Nigeria. However, Nigeria citizens and habitats can still be at risk from POPs that have persisted in the environment from unintentionally produced sources that are released into the country.
They are also exposed to POPs that are released elsewhere and then transported here, or from both.
While the accelerating deterioration of global organic pollutants has its most profound consequences on the vulnerable countries of the world, an environmentally aware and empowered population is potentially the greatest agents of change for long-term protection and stewardship of the earth. The government need to raise awareness on the impacts of POPs from the policymakers’ to the rural community level. Also, urgent steps need to be undertaking to systematically observe with respect to inventory of POPs in Nigeria, assess more comprehensively the country’s vulnerability to, and design appropriate adaptation strategies to the impacts of POPs.
Most importantly, Nigeria must strengthen her participation at the international fora not only to elaborate the implementation of, but also to access multi-lateral funds available for the implementation of the Convention.
