Gov. Abiodun decries unprofessionalism among laboratory analysts
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday, expressed concern over the lack of professionalism and integrity among some laboratory analysts in the country.
Abiodun stressed that, given the critical role analysts’ reports play in government decision-making and policy formulation, they must maintain high ethical standards and ensure that only accurate and reliable data is presented to the public.
Represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, the governor made this call while declaring open the 2025 Public Analysts Conference of the Society of Testing Laboratory Analysts of Nigeria (SOLTAN), held in Abeokuta. The theme of the conference was: “The Roles of Public Analysts in Tackling Climate Change for Food Security.”
“What worries me is the challenge of quackery among analysts,” the governor said. “You see laboratory stamps on analysis reports for tests that were never conducted. Some staff collect money and stamp reports without actual tests being carried out.”
He revealed that, to address this malpractice, the state Ministry of Environment had written to the Federal Ministry of Environment to declare that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports not issued by analysts accredited by the state would no longer be accepted.
“The importance of analysts in decision-making cannot be overstated. Whatever an analyst says is taken as fact. Can we then afford low levels of professionalism in this field? Absolutely not. This is a profession that, like medicine or aviation, cannot tolerate errors because mistakes can be fatal,” he added.
Abiodun emphasised that analysts are central to projections, adaptation strategies, and mitigation efforts — essential components for sound policy formulation. According to him, incorrect analysis leads to faulty policies, which could have far-reaching negative consequences for the public.
He further disclosed that the government had established a laboratory at the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency to verify the authenticity of results submitted by accredited analysts, with the aim of curbing the proliferation of fake reports.
“In Ogun State, we take our environment seriously. We will not tolerate substandard reports or practices in such a critical area,” he said.
Abiodun also urged analysts to support government efforts in reducing carbon footprints and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on food production and security.
In his keynote address, the Director of Climate Change and Environmental Planning at the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Omoniyi Bankole, represented by Dr. Olasunkanmi Sojinu, highlighted the growing impact of climate change on Nigeria. He listed heatwaves, flooding, prolonged droughts, and rising sea levels as major threats.
He referenced a World Bank projection stating that over 43 million Africans could fall into poverty by 2030 due to reduced crop yields caused by climate change.
Bankole stressed the vital role public analysts play in policy development, including supporting farmers through soil testing, fertiliser input analysis, and climate-resilient recommendations. He called for stronger involvement of analysts in public sector initiatives.
In his welcome address, SOLTAN President, Professor Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, urged the government to provide greater support to public analysts, enabling them to deliver high-quality data in line with global standards.
He raised concerns over the presence of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium in Nigeria’s soil and water systems, which he linked to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in the country.
“We need to step up advocacy and public awareness on issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and global warming. These climate-related challenges have grave environmental and health consequences.
“As public analysts, we must take the lead in providing reliable data that informs policy. We must rise to the responsibility of protecting and restoring our environment for a healthier and more sustainable future”, he said.
Credit – punch
