By Yemi Olakitan,
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu officially opened a government-owned, ISO-certified environmental laboratory at weekend, on Friday. The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) building in Ikeja is home to the ISO-certified laboratory.
Speaking at the ceremony’s opening in Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu claimed that the state’s expanding population made an updated laboratory imperative.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, attended the event on Sanwo-Olu’s behalf.
According to him, the agency’s ability to successfully carry out its primary purpose of monitoring the environment for safety and sustainability will be improved by having the ultra-modern lab.
He claims that the laboratory’s re-equipment helped it obtain accreditation from the International Organization of Standardization for its Laboratory Management System (ISO/IEC 17025) and Quality Management System (ISO/IEC 9001).
The fact that Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) is now the first publicly owned environmental laboratory to achieve this certification is quite heartwarming.
“This certification has given Lagos State a global recognition and acceptance, as the results produced from this laboratory are consistent and accurate through the industry-standard methods; and in accordance with best standards attainable internationally.
“I strongly advise the administration and staff of this organisation, especially those who will be in charge of running this laboratory, to do so with the utmost professionalism and sense of accountability.
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“Our administration will keep funding initiatives that support our mission of providing a safe, secure, and sustainable environment.
I look forward to a more purpose driven relationship with local and international bodies, academic institutions, researchers, and non-governmental organisations, he said, as we work to bring about a more resilient and environmentally sustainable state.
The General Manager of LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, stated in her welcome speech that the agency’s responsibilities and functions extend beyond laboratory services.
According to Fasawe, it acted as the repository for all the data and information used to assess the state of the environment in Lagos State.
This, she claimed, made an update and standardization of laboratory procedures absolutely important.
She claims that the laboratory building was built 32 years ago as a pollution control laboratory, a division of the Ministry of the Environment, during the administration of Raji Rasaki.
“However, it underwent a transformation during the Fmr. Governor Bola Tinubu administration and became a fully functional EPA laboratory.
The laboratory has a strategic footprint that is divided into seven separate laboratory services, including potable water, waste water, land and soil, toxicology, microbiology, heavy metals, and air and noise laboratories.
“The current administration gave environmental monitoring, management, and pollution control a priority in keeping with the aforementioned footprint in accordance with its THEMES agenda.
