Minister Promises Upgrade Of Critical Environmental Infrastructure

Minister of Environment Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal has assured partners of the federal government’s commitment to upgrading critical infrastructure for the country’s development and protecting the environment.

Balarabe spoke in Lagos when he inaugurated the Optimised House, a significant milestone in Nigeria’s implementation of the Montreal Protocol and the Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP).

A press statement signed by the ministry’s director of information, Ibrahim Haruna, explained that the facility was developed in collaboration with the National Ozone Office of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the transition from HCFC-141b to ozone – and climate-friendly blowing agents in the manufacture of rigid polyurethane foam.

The minister said the project was an achievement for the successful relocation and upgrade of the system laboratory with advanced analytical equipment, the optimisation of the PU Systems House with additional blending tanks to improve capacity, and the Complete phase-out of HCFC-141b in sandwich panel, spray, and block systems in Vitapur’s in-house operations.

In his welcome address, the executive director of Vitapurs Ltd, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, mentioned that the facility will enhance capabilities in trials, testing, and training with low-GWP blowing agents, increase the blending capacity of ODS-free raw materials for rigid PU products, and expand laboratory functions for analysing raw materials and finished products, as well as their economic and environmental Impact.

He said the optimised system house will promote employment creation and technology transfer, save foreign exchange by reducing import dependency, and support Nigeria’s industrialisation drive through local subsidiaries such as Vitapur, Vitavisco, Vitablom, Vono Furniture, and Vitaparts.

The representative of UNDP, Mrs. Elsie Attafuah, also represented by Muyiwa Odele in a goodwill message called on the Ministry of Environment, Management and Staff of Vitapurs Ltd to put the facility in optimal use and effective maintenance for the benefit of humanity.

The highlight of the ceremony was the handover of the certificate to the management of Vitapur Nigeria Ltd. Also, an agreement was signed between the Federal Ministry of Environment (through the National Ozone Office), UNDP, and Vitapur to ensure the sustainability and continuous optimisation of the System House.