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From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Society of Testing Laboratory Analysts of Nigeria (SoLTAN) has called on the Lagos State Government to relocate dumpsites located within residential areas to prevent spread of diseases and protect public health.
The group made this call in a communiqué issued at the end of its seventh Conference of Public Analysts (COPA) 2025, with the theme: ‘The Role of Public Analysts in Tackling Climate Change for Food Security’, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The communiqué was signed by the chairperson of the body, Prof. Adedayo Ajayi, and secretary, Mr. Fagbohun Adebisi, as well as two other members, Mrs. Chinwe Kelechukwu and Mr. Francis Oyekanmi.
It, however, expressed worries that underground water in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state is heavily loaded with dangerous pathogens and heavy metals, coupled with odour as a result of leachate from various dumpsites within the communities.
The SoLTAN observed that the climate change got more pronounced with gross environmental pollution, and emphasised the need for Lagos State to take pragmatic steps to address the issue of dumpsites in residential areas and other environmental matters to prevent heavy flooding and gross environmental pollution.
The communiqué stated that climate change has brought untold hardship to farmers and the community at large through flood, drought, rise in temperature, rainfall variation, coastal erosion and salt water intrusion, which have negative impacts on soil condition. The society bemoaned lack of comprehensive data to resolve the problem of climate change in the country.
The immediate past president of the society, Dr. Laoye Oyediran, emphasised the roles of public analysts in ensuring food safety. He urged people to be mindful of what they eat.
On his part, the president of SOLTAN, Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, expressed concerns about uncertified analysts carrying out analysis, a situation he said has impacted negatively on food and environmental assessment reports.
Professor Lateef Sanni, the Executive Director, Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute, Ilorin, Kwara State, said: “Climate variability is no longer a theory. Therefore, a public analyst has a critical role to play.”
