Public Private Partnership (PPP)Concept Note:
Upgrading of Environmental Analytical Laboratory Infrastructure in Nigeria and Building of Technical
Capacity among the Local Workforce
Technical Documentation Page
Report No: CG/ANALAB/FG-01 Report Date:
Report Title A PROPOSAL ON PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP: ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY IN ABUJA, FCT, NIGERIA
Author:Olukayode Sadiq
Designation:Principal Consultant/Managing Director
Performing OrganizationCanopy Greens Environmental Limited
AddressSuite 115B DBM Plaza Nouakchott St Wuse Zone 1, Abuja. Phone: +234 9 291 5496Mobile: +234 81 743 [email protected]
AbstractA gradual but steady increase in the need/demand for environmental assessments and studies
that cuts across major sectors of the economy (Oil & Gas, Agriculture, Manufacturing & Industry
and Mining) has been identified. It is imperative to focus on the development of local
infrastructure to improve our capacity for environmental management. This will enable the right
environment for creativity, innovation and real and practical change. The development of our
local capacity to analyze environmental parameters, generate data and interpret the generated
data is vital in realizing our goal of promoting environmental sustainability in the country.
Owning assets is important. This leads to asset maintenance, training, job creation and
improvement in the quality of locally sourced services. Environmental assessments and
monitoring have become an integral part of economic and social development at all levels of
governance and the accessibility to qualitative and quantitative data is the bedrock of effective
policy making and sustainable development. In Nigeria today, there is a serious shortage of
infrastructural and technical capacity to deliver the standard of laboratory services required for
environmental assessment and environmental monitoring as obtainable in the world today. This
challenge can be overcome by government and private sector partnership (PPP) as evidenced in
other sectors of the economy and other nations of the world.
The mission of the proposed lab is to raise the standard and quality of Environmental Studies in Nigeria through chemical and environmental analysis; to ensure increased Environmental regulatory
compliance and provide sound guidance in Health, Safety & Environment policy making.Key words:
Environment, Laboratory, Analysis, Monitoring, Oil and Gas, Climate change, Job Creation, Canopy Greens, Health and Safety.
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Foreword:The need for PPP in the development of Environmental Laboratory Infrastructure in NigeriaThere is a severe shortage of infrastructural and technical capacity to deliver the standard of
laboratory services required for environmental assessment and environmental monitoring as
obtainable in other parts of the world today.
Quick Facts:
There is a serious shortage of technical and infrastructural capacity to analyze
environmental matrices in Nigeria.
The few commercial environmental laboratories available are concentrated in the south
and south west of the country where oil exploration activities abound.
There is only one DPR accredited laboratory in the whole of Northern Nigeria. This
laboratory does not have a GC-MS machine (the most basic and relevant piece of analytical
equipment in standard environmental laboratories around the world today).
The Nigerian environmental Regulatory Authorities (Ministry of Mines and Steel
Development, NESREA, NOSDRA, Federal Ministry of Environment, DPR) are ill-equipped to
adequately undertake environmental monitoring and other related regulatory activities
mainly due to lack of standard laboratory facilities and trained manpower.
There is currently NO Environmental Monitoring Framework in place in Nigeria. An
Environmental Monitoring Framework must be built upon the adequacy of environmental
monitoring infrastructure.
95% of all federal and state government-run environmental laboratory facilities are
substandard, lacking infrastructure, technical capacity & manpower, adequate and timely
funding.
None of the federal or state government environmental laboratory facilities are ISO
Certified;
There is an unhealthy focus on the environmental effects of oil and gas activities to the
detriment of other environmentally critical sectors including mining, construction,
agriculture, manufacturing, education and research; all of which are actively on-going and
rapidly developing in various parts of the country.
An in-depth analysis of this situation has identified that a PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP)
model can be adopted to overcome the challenges associated with the establishment of standard
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environmental laboratory infrastructure within the country and promote the industry for long-
term environmental and sustainable development. The benefits of engaging in a PPP are
numerous but not limited to:
1. To enable the public sector harness the expertise and efficiencies that the private sector
can bring to the delivery of certain facilities and services traditionally procured and
delivered by the public sector;
2. To give value for money for the taxpayer through optimal risk transfer and risk
management
3. Creation of added value through synergies between public authorities and private sector
companies, in particular, through the integration and cross transfer of public and private
sector skills, knowledge and expertise;
4. Alleviation of capacity constraints and bottlenecks in the economy through higher
productivity of labour and capital resources in the delivery of projects;
5. Competition and greater service capacity (including the participation of overseas firms,
especially in joint ventures and partnering arrangements);
6. Accountability for the provision and delivery of quality public services through an
performance incentive management/regulatory regime;
7. Innovation and diversity in the provision of public services;
8. Effective utilization of state assets to the benefit of all users of public services;
9. Greater cost efficiency from integrating design and construction of public infrastructure
with financing, operation and maintenance/upgrading;
10. The challenges associated with the provision and maintenance of standard state-owned
environmental/analytical laboratory infrastructure as well as trained manpower in Nigeria
can be overcome by strategic partnership with the private sector.
The Establishment of PPP's to overcome critical infrastructural challenges is strongly endorsed by
the international community. The UNDP has and continues to play a vital role in helping
developing countries to build and foster such partnerships. As such, a PPP venture such as this will
be strategically poised to receive funding/aid from the international community in the form of
infrastructural, research, capacity building & leadership training and socio-economic development
grants. As highlighted above, such a venture will be an incentive for participation of overseas firms
and create an enabling environment for direct foreign investment.PPP- Environmental Laboratory Infrastructure in Nigeria- www.canopygreens.com 4 | P a g e
Development of a Public Private Partnership Enterprise- Environmental Analytical Laboratory in Abuja, Nigeria: sharing and coordinating resources and expertise; harnessing markets for development.
Development Objectives International: Millennium Development Goals National: Investment Stimulation, enhanced environmental and social compliance
standards
Business objectives New business investment opportunities New services More effective social and environmental risk management Youth employment and empowerment
1.0 BackgroundThe Oil & Gas servicing industry in Nigeria is currently valued at over 9 billion USD annually. Since
the discovery of oil, the sector has grown rapidly without a concurrent development in
infrastructure. The combination of an expanding population, weak institutional structures and
increasing poverty despite the high earnings from the industry have resulted in a rise in civil
unrest, propagation of illegal refineries and major environmental degradation. Before the
discovery of large hydrocarbon deposits, agriculture was the major Foreign Exchange Earner [FEE]
in Nigeria and has since struggled to maintain a relevant contribution to the country's GDP.
Attempts by the government to revive the agricultural sector have resulted in sharp increases in
the use of fertilizers and pesticides (most of which have been banned) which have more than
doubled in the last two decades. The unfavorable conditions for manufacturing and weak
enforcement institutions contribute to low compliance in the Manufacturing sector with similar
circumstances surrounding the Mining sector. As a result, severe environmental challenges
abound and concerns among the local populace and the international community continue to
grow.
A huge demand for environmental assessments and studies that cuts across these major sectors of
the economy is evident. Critical concerns over risks of environmental degradation, human health
and safety, declining biodiversity, oil spillages and associated disasters (such as pipeline or rig
explosions/negative corporate image/local unrest) including corporate sustainability mandates are
key compliance drivers. However, the technical capacity to deal with the enormity of the demand
is weak.
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2.0 Project JustificationIt is imperative to focus on the development of local infrastructure to improve our capacity for
environmental management. This will enable the right environment for creativity, innovation and
real and practical change. Specific infrastructure that will help to improve the awareness and
compliance of environmental legislation among the national populace and promote standard
environmental practices in the above mentioned industries is: Environmental Analytical
Laboratories. The development of our local capacity to analyze environmental parameters,
generate and interpret the generated data is vital in realizing our goal of promoting environmental
sustainability in the country. Owning assets is important. This leads to asset maintenance, training,
job creation and improvement in the quality of locally sourced services. The accessibility of
qualitative and quantitative data is the bedrock of effective policy making and sustainable
development at all organizational levels. The utilization of the purest and most valuable resource
available to us, our intellectual reserves, is continually undermined because of the lack of
infrastructure. According to the E&P Forum/UNEP 1997, laboratories, laboratory supplies and
equipment are listed as Technical Services Infrastructure needed for environmental protection.
However, environmental protection and standards are often compromised due to high demand
and weak technical capacity.
3.0 Mission
The mission of the proposed lab is to raise the standard and quality of Environmental Studies in
Nigeria through chemical and environmental analysis. To analyze air, soil, water and other
relevant field samples and provide results and interpretations that will help to improve the Health,
Safety and Environmental [HSE] management performance of the Oil & Gas/ Agricultural/ Mining
and Manufacturing sectors; to ensure increased regulatory compliance in these sectors and
provide sound guidance in HSE policy making.
4.0 Vision
To provide support services for Federal Regulatory Enforcement Agencies
To fill the need for quality environmental laboratory analysis at the most cost efficient
price possible and become the leading commercial environmental laboratory in the
country.
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5.0 Data Objectives
Data obtained from the proposed Environmental Analytical Laboratory will be used for Planning,
Policy making, implementation of relevant environmental legislation and compliance monitoring.
Hence, the laboratory should be able to capture sufficient data with adequate quality that will
satisfy technical and quality objectives.
Data derived from this Environmental Laboratory is intended for use in the following areas:
1. Environmental baseline and compliance monitoring programs
2. Site Assessment and Remediation
3. Sediment Assessment for dredging
4. Drinking, Catchment and Recycled water monitoring
5. Occupational Health and Safety
6. Agricultural Testing Services
7. Related disciplines requiring a sophisticated analytical approach
6.0 Policy Review & Recommendations
As highlighted in the Policy Review section in Chapter 3 of our proposal, our policy review and
recommendations will create an enabling environment for the growth and development of
laboratory infrastructure nationwide. The increase in demand for laboratory services will drive
investments and development in the sector.
Strategic timing is crucial in positioning ANALAB to quickly key in and capture the majority of the
market share.
7.0 Expected Delivery
A fully functional laboratory that can support environmental research, analyze all samples
obtained from environmental matrices that cut across the Oil & Gas, Mining, Agriculture and
Manufacturing sectors.
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