GHS IMPLEMENTATION IN NIGERIA

1. GHS IMPLEMENTATION IN NIGERIA MRS RONKE SOYOMBO Federal Ministry of Environment Abuja

2. INTRODUCTION:Background The Federal Republic of Nigeria is situated on the West Coast of Africa • It is between longitude 2.40" and 14.32" East and Latitude 4.16" and 13.52" North of the equator. • Occupies an area of 923,773 square kilometers.

3. Background (Contd) • Bordered by the Republic of Benin to the West, Niger to the North, Cameroon to the East and the Atlantic Ocean to the South. • Nigeria is richly endowed country with abundant human and natural resources. • Nigeria is most populous country in Africa.

4. (Contd) • The estimate population in the year 2003 is about 126million • Has an annual growth rate of 2.7%, with 71% of the population living in rural areas. • The population in the country is unevenly distributed • About 60 percent of population live in rural areas • 40 percent live in urban areas.

5. (Contd) • The major economic sectors are agriculture, industry, wholesale and retail trades. Insurance, Banking and Finance form the major part of the invisible trade. • Crude oil dominates exports, accounting for 95.7% of all exports, while agricultural products account for 2.6%.

6. (Contd) • The main agricultural crops (cash crops) are cocoa, oil palm, soyabean, groundnut, cotton and coconut. • Most of the chemicals in use in the country are imported. • These include pesticides, petroleum products, industrial chemicals, fertilizers and consumer chemical products. • Nigeria's trading partners/principal sources for these chemicals are European and Asian Countries.

7. In other to provide opportunities to draw out the link between poverty and environment; and to demonstrate that sound and equitable management of the environment is integral to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and ensuring environmental sustainability my Government initiated a reform program call NEEDS

8. NEEDS • NEEDS is Nigeria’s National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy. • It is the country’s home grown Poverty Reduction Strategy Program (PRSP) • NEEDS was built on the consultative processes associated with the PRSP as a MEDIUM-TERM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (2003-2007).

9. NEEDS (Contd) • Revive and grow Nigeria’s comatose economy. • Significantly raise the standard of living of the people. • Put Nigerians back to gainful work and create new employment opportunities. • Reposition the economy to participate beneficially in the global economy • Poverty Reduction

10. (Contd) • Since NEEDS aims to reduce poverty and empower poor people, it cannot do this without promoting environmental sustainability. In this regard, the NEEDS strategies include the Millennium Development Goal No. 7 to ensure environmental sustainability. • Addressing environmental issues would also help to achieve the other Millennium Development Goals

11. Sectoral reforms under NEEDS • Agriculture; • Industry; • Services (education, health) Consequently, there would be a high demand for chemicals at the Agricultural and Industrial sectors, there would be need for transporting, handling/ use chemicals and more people will be exposed

12. GHS Implementation In Nigeria: Experiences & Status • UNITAR at the beginning of the year indicated its willingness to support Nigeria as a pilot country in undertaking the National GHS Implementation Strategy during 2005/2006 with resources provided by the government of Switzerland.

13. Project outline • Project commenced in ----------March 2005 • Project completion -----last quarter of 2006 • Project in three phases: • Phase 1:Preparation of a GHS situation /Gap Analysis and comprehensibility testing • Phase 2:Targeted GHS Capacity Building • Phase 3:Development of A Strategic Plan (Road Map) for National GHS Implementation by 2008

14. Status summary • A national GHS Implementation committee was established at the inception of the project. • It comprised representatives of ministries and stakeholders groups for the purpose of advising in matters of project implementation and drafting laws/regulations. • The Federal Ministry of Environment served as the lead government agencies for each of the four target sector: transport, industrial production agriculture and consumer

15. GHS situation and Gap Analysis • Comprehensibility testing was conducted in three cities, Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan • The information collected through the situation and gap analysis allowed for determination of capacity Gaps and areas that require strengthening for implementation of the GHS in Nigeria

16. Comprehensibility Study • Sample size 200, 50/sector • Four sector Agricultural, transport, Consumer and Industry • Consider variables required in the UCT testing module provided such as gender, age and educational level, and work experiences • Enumerators selected and trained, administered the questionnaires • All data collected and analyzed

17. Challenges/Needs for Capacity Building • Establishment/ legislation of a national chemical registration body with membership of all relevant stakeholder to harmonize chemical/pesticide registration in the Country in compliance with GHS • Enactment of a multi-sectoral legislation that will ensure coordination and coherent approach

18. Challenges/Needs for Capacity Building • Technical training & sustained awareness programs- across the target audience to address regulators needs and the regulated.

19. Achievements • Professional and Political case has been built regarding the need for GHS • Initial Awareness created through Comprehensibility Testing and Study

20. Conclusion • The phase 1 aspect involving preparation of GHS situation /gap analysis and comprehensibility testing has been completed • Phase 2 has reached advanced stages • Professional and Political case has been built regarding the Need for GHS

21. Next Steps • Further support is needed to sustain the interest to ensure that as the NEED program is been realized users of chemicals/pesticides are aware of the inherent dangers and pay more attentions on the labeling