Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to the Montreal Protocol and its Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) phase-out program.
The country’s Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, made the submission in Lagos on Thursday, at the Stakeholder’s Inception Workshop for the Stage III of the Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Phaseout Management Plan (HPMP) project.
He commended the efforts of the project implementing agencies, especially the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and the effective collaboration Nigeria enjoyed in the implementation of the HPMP, mainly in the manufacturing sector of the project.
Abdullahi, represented by Zonal Director, Lagos and Southwest, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Agbenla, disclosed that, as a Party to the Montreal Protocol, Nigeria has been part of global efforts towards the phase-out of ODS in all sectors of her economy and has demonstrated commitment to the provisions of the Protocol by phasing out the use of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCS) and some other ODS in 2010.
He disclosed that the Ministry commenced implementing the HPMP project in 2011, with the objective to completely phase out 344.9 Ozone Depletion Potential tonnes of HCFCs by January 1, 2040.
“UNDP is the Lead Implementing Agency for the project, is responsible for the phase-out of HCFCs in the Foam & Refrigeration & Air conditioning Servicing sector, while UNIDO, the complementing agency, is responsible for the phase-out in the Manufacturing sector.
“The project is being implemented in stages under the UNIDO component of stage 1, 75 Low-Pressure Foaming Machines, designed to use Ozone Friendly blowing agents were procured and distributed to Ice Block Making Machines Manufacturers, for the production of rigid Polyurethane foam for thermal insulation, among other activities carried out.
“These enabled us to achieve the phase-out of 118.6 MT of HCFC-141b in the manufacturing sector. The successful completion of these activities enabled us to meet our Montreal Protocol’s target of 10% HCFCs reduction from our baseline consumption in 2015,” he explained.
According to him, upon completion of the project’s stage 1 activities, stage II was approved in 2018, with the overall objective of achieving 51.35% phase-out of the nation’s HCFC consumption in 2023.
Abdullahi pointed out that, under the UNIDO component of stage II, which commenced in 2019, four pressure foaming machines designed to use Ozone-friendly blowing agents were supplied and distributed to beneficiary companies producing cold rooms and other refrigeration equipment.
In a goodwill message, UNIDO Regional Director and Representative, Regional Office Hub Mr. Jean Bakole, Nigeria and ECOWAS, explained that Nigeria’s Stage III of the HPMP that focuses on the investment projects for the phase-out of HCFC-22 in the RAC manufacturing sector to achieve additional HCFC reductions does not overlap with the ongoing activities in Stage II, which entails phase-out activities in the PU foam manufacturing and RAC servicing sectors.
He said Nigeria has been one of the most active developing countries in the negotiations of the Vienna Convention and its associated Montreal Protocol.
“The implementation of Stage III of the HPMP will phase out 17.13 Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) tonnes of HCFC-22 and assist Nigeria in meeting the target of 67.5 percent reduction in HCFC baseline consumption by 2025. The first tranche of Stage III of the HPMP has been approved at the 91st EXCOM meeting.
“Nigeria has served on many committees, and I am proud to say that UNIDO has jointly received international awards with the Nigerian government on implementing the Montreal Protocol,” he said.
Speaking on the role of women in Ozone Layer protection, a representative of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) said that women should participate actively in technology design to achieve this.
“Educating the woman is a way to save the environment. To save the environment, we must involve women, bring them to the design table,” she said.
By Dare Akogun
