Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Eniola Ajayi, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening chemical safety and security frameworks in line with international standards.
Speaking during the opening session of the OPCW training workshop held in Abuja, Ajayi emphasized the critical role of capacity-building in equipping national stakeholders to prevent the misuse of toxic chemicals.
Ambassador Ajayi commended the OPCW for organizing the five-day workshop in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Authority on Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions (NAC&BWC). She noted that the initiative was not only timely but necessary, especially in light of global threats involving chemical weapons and dual-use substances.
“The importance of this training cannot be overemphasized. It strengthens Nigeria’s preparedness, enhances our regulatory frameworks, and builds synergy among critical agencies,” she stated. Ajayi also highlighted Nigeria’s proactive steps in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), adding that inter-agency collaboration, law enforcement support, and stakeholder engagement remain key priorities.
The ambassador expressed optimism that the training would serve as a springboard for future cooperation and technical assistance from the OPCW, as Nigeria works to safeguard public health, national security, and its growing chemical industry. She reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to the peaceful use of chemistry and urged participants to leverage the knowledge gained to improve compliance and enforcement at all levels.