ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The United States has identified Nigeria as a strategic partner in promoting chemical security, aimed at ensuring a safer world.
Daniel Rockniak, Senior Director of the American Chemical Council (ACC), made this announcement in Abuja on Wednesday at a workshop titled “Promoting Chemical Security for a Safer World.”
Rockniak explained that Nigeria was selected due to its potential for responsible chemical management and distribution.
He said that his mission was to talk to stakeholders handling chemical distribution about how the country could handle responsible chemical distribution.
Vanguard reports that the workshop was aimed to engage stakeholders in chemical distribution and identify organizations to sponsor responsible care in Nigeria.
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He emphasized that the US seeks to complement existing regulations in Nigeria, leveraging best practices globally to enhance chemical management.
“We have seen benefits around the world of a country and industries taking up responsible care and having a program that identifies specific requirements”, he said.
Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research at NAFDAC, Dr. Patric Omokpariola, highlighted the importance of chemical safety and security.
He noted that NAFDAC has adopted the US chemical security programs, aiming to ensure citizens’ safety and prevent unauthorized access to chemicals by non-state actors, terrorists, and criminal elements.
He said, “Everyone that has contact with chemicals and chemistry already knows that chemicals are inherently hazardous and dangerous, so we have to be kept in such a way to be safe”, Omokpariola said.
He said that the real concept of chemical security started after September 11, 2021, what we usually call 9-11, during the attack on the World Trade Center.
“Chemical security is to keep people safe from the harmful effects of chemicals, while chemical security, on the other hand, is to keep the chemicals safe“, he added.
The collaboration according to him, seeks to improve chemical management, prevent harmful effects, and forestall the misuse of chemicals by malicious actors.
This partnership demonstrates the commitment of both nations to prioritizing chemical security and safety.