03/08/2026
EU PROJECT 91 EXPERTS VISIT NOSDRA REFERENCE LABORATORY TO EXPLORE CAPACITY-BUILDING PARTNERSHIP
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Reference Laboratory (NRL), Port Harcourt, on Thursday, 30 July 2026, received a delegation of European Union (EU) Project 91 Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on a working visit to assess opportunities for technical collaboration, with a strong focus on capacity building.
The delegation was led by Professor Farouk Jaber of a Lebanese university and accompanied by Dr. Opeoluwa Fasanya.
Welcoming the delegation, the Head of the NOSDRA Reference Laboratory, Dr. Kenneth Aroh, highlighted the Agency's mandate under the NOSDRA Act of 2006 to coordinate the implementation of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan and ensure effective response to oil spill incidents across Nigeria.
Dr. Aroh explained that the Reference Laboratory provides scientific support for oil spill investigations, remediation monitoring, environmental quality assessment, hydrocarbon fingerprinting, post-impact assessments, proficiency testing, facility inspections, and environmental sample analysis using internationally accepted laboratory standards. He also introduced the delegation to the laboratory's operational units, including the Microbiology, Toxicology, Wet Chemistry, and Analytical Laboratories.
Reaffirming the laboratory's commitment to research partnerships and technical cooperation, Dr. Aroh outlined key operational challenges, including inadequate power supply, limited access to modern analytical equipment, the need for continuous specialised manpower development, and reliance on external experts for troubleshooting sophisticated laboratory instruments.
The visit underscored the NOSDRA Reference Laboratory's growing role as a centre of scientific excellence while providing an opportunity to showcase its capabilities.