Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has expressed serious concern over the declining professionalism and integrity among some laboratory analysts in Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking through the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, at the opening of the 2025 Public Analysts Conference of the Society of Testing Laboratory Analysts of Nigeria (SOLTAN) in Abeokuta, Abiodun emphasized the importance of ethical conduct in laboratory science. The conference, themed “The Roles of Public Analysts in Tackling Climate Change for Food Security,” attracted experts from across the country.

Abiodun warned that laboratory reports form the bedrock of critical government decisions and policy frameworks, and therefore must be accurate, reliable, and grounded in sound scientific procedures.

“What deeply worries me,” the governor said, “is the rise of quackery in the field. It is disturbing to find laboratory stamps on reports for tests that were never carried out. In some cases, staff collect payment and issue certified results without conducting any form of analysis.”

To address this malpractice, Abiodun revealed that the Ogun State Ministry of Environment had petitioned the Federal Ministry of Environment, urging it to invalidate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports not issued by state-accredited analysts.

He stressed that the margin for error in laboratory science is nonexistent, likening the profession’s gravity to that of medicine and aviation. “A flawed analysis leads to faulty policies, and faulty policies hurt lives. This profession cannot afford mediocrity,” he said.

Abiodun highlighted the pivotal role analysts play in shaping climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, particularly as Nigeria grapples with climate change and its effects on food security. To ensure quality control, he noted that the state had established a laboratory within the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency to independently verify submitted test results.

“In Ogun, we are committed to environmental integrity. We will not tolerate substandard practices or falsified reports, especially in such a sensitive area,” he declared.

The governor also appealed to analysts to actively support government efforts aimed at cutting carbon emissions and mitigating the environmental threats to agriculture and food production.

Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Omoniyi Bankole, Director of Climate Change and Environmental Planning at the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources — represented by Dr. Olasunkanmi Sojinu — underscored the growing impacts of climate change in Nigeria. He cited heatwaves, flooding, droughts, and rising sea levels as escalating threats.

Bankole referenced a World Bank projection that over 43 million Africans could be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to falling agricultural yields driven by climate change.

He stressed that public analysts play a critical role in helping farmers and policymakers adapt, through services like soil testing, fertiliser analysis, and evidence-based recommendations for sustainable practices.

In his welcome address, SOLTAN President, Professor Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, called for increased government support to strengthen the capacity of public analysts and align their work with global best practices.

He also raised alarms over the growing presence of toxic heavy metals — including lead, arsenic, and cadmium — in Nigeria’s soil and water, linking them to the country’s rising rate of non-communicable diseases.

“We must amplify advocacy and public education around climate-related issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and global warming,” Ogunmoyela urged. “As public analysts, we are responsible for providing credible data that guides national policy and safeguards public health. It is time we fully embrace this responsibility and lead the way toward a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.”