…As terrorists move to chemical warfare, Nigeria told to be ahead
Handlers of chemical products in most parts of the Niger Delta are gathering in Port Harcourt for two days to learn more about emerging trends in safety and security.
This is as experts have revealed that global focus has shifted from mere safety to security concerns in chemicals handling and access due to theft and misuse.
The training is organized by the ‘Chemicals & Allied Trade Group’ of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA).
Explaining the essence of the training in the face of new concerns, David Ofoegbu, a chemical engineer and chairman of the Chemicals and Allied Trade Group of PHCCIMA, stated that a story he told reminds everyone that every lapse in chemical handling carries human consequences. “It is precisely to prevent such tragedies that we gather here today.”
In that case, he said: “This event is more than a meeting of minds; it is a convergence of leadership, knowledge, and duty. We are here because chemical safety is not optional; it is fundamental. It protects lives, preserves our environment, and ensures that commerce and industry thrive responsibly.
“The strategic purpose of this symposium is clear: to strengthen the culture of safety in chemical handling; to align industry practices with global standards; and to foster collaboration between regulators, academia, and the private sector.
“Our goal is to ensure that compliance is not seen as a burden but embraced as a pathway to competitiveness, sustainability, and corporate excellence. By bringing together stakeholders across commerce, industry, and science, we aim to generate actionable insights, shape policy direction, and build partnerships that safeguard our communities while advancing economic growth.”
He said the presence of regulators and government agencies (NAFDAC, SON, the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce & Industry; the Rivers State Ministry of Environment; the Rivers State Fire Service; and the Rivers State Ministry of Health represented by the Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System), is not just symbolic; it is foundational. “It affirms that chemical safety is a matter of national priority, ensuring that the outcomes of this symposium resonate with integrity, accountability, and lasting impact.”
They showed deep appreciation of safety professionals at the event saying they would bridge the gap between theory and practice.
In her speech, Chinyere Nwoga, the president of PHCCIMA, said the city chamber operated through the trade groups that burrow into the real sectors and ferret out the challenges to be solved by the bigger house.
She spoke about need for strong connectivity between the academia and the industry, saying the universities produce the people that would work in the companies.
The president called on regulatory agencies to rather embrace the businesses they regular with a supportive approach because if businesses die, there would be nothing to regulate. She said it was great to realise that the Rivers State Fire Service was fully back.
In her keynote lecture, Kaine Okorosaye Orubite, a professor of Chemistry and Head of Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt and global member of the Chemical Safety and Security, said Chemical security is her passion.
She pointed out the various safety and security threats from chemicals and urged all hands to be on deck, even as she warned that global focus has moved from chemical safety to security in the face of chemical bombing and terror.
