Source: Taiwo Bankole

Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun

Abeokuta, Nigeria – Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has expressed strong concern over the increasing trend of unprofessional practices among laboratory analysts, warning that such behavior undermines public trust and can lead to dangerous policy errors.

Speaking at the 2025 Public Analysts Conference of the Society of Testing Laboratory Analysts of Nigeria (SOLTAN), held in Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun—represented by Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya—said that fake reports and quackery are threatening the credibility of scientific data used in policymaking.

“You see laboratory stamps on reports for tests that were never conducted. Some staff collect money and stamp reports without actual tests. That’s a dangerous trend,” he said.

“No Room for Errors”: Data Integrity Key to Policy and Public Safety

Governor Abiodun stressed that analysts’ reports directly impact critical government decisions, including environmental regulation, food security policies, and climate resilience strategies.

“This is a profession that, like medicine or aviation, cannot tolerate errors. Mistakes can be fatal. We cannot afford low standards in data collection and analysis,” he warned.

To curb malpractice, the Ogun State Ministry of Environment has declared that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports not issued by analysts accredited in the state will no longer be accepted. A laboratory has also been established at the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) to verify submitted reports for authenticity.

Public Analysts as Frontline Defenders Against Climate Change

Themed “The Roles of Public Analysts in Tackling Climate Change for Food Security,” this year’s SOLTAN conference also highlighted the role of analysts in environmental protection and sustainable agriculture.

Delivering the keynote, Mr. Omoniyi Bankole, Director of Climate Change and Environmental Planning at the Lagos State Ministry of Environment (represented by Dr. Olasunkanmi Sojinu), said climate change is already intensifying food insecurity in Nigeria. He cited World Bank data predicting over 43 million Africans could fall into poverty by 2030 due to declining crop yields caused by environmental shifts.

“Analysts must help farmers through soil testing, fertiliser evaluation, and climate-resilient agricultural recommendations,” he added.

Toxic Metals, Public Health, and Policy Action

In his welcome address, SOLTAN President, Professor Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, urged the government to empower public analysts with funding, infrastructure, and regulatory support to improve testing quality and reliability. He raised alarms about heavy metal contamination in Nigeria’s soil and water—particularly lead, cadmium, and arsenic—which he linked to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases.

“As public analysts, we must take the lead in providing reliable data that informs policy. Advocacy on climate, biodiversity loss, and pollution is urgent,” he said.