By Obiabin Onukwugha
An environmental body, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria), has carried out a four-days sensitisation for refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) technicians in the South/South region of Nigeria on the impact of harmful substances on the ozone layer.
SRADev Nigeria carried the sensitisation during a training program for RAC technicians by the Ozone Office of the Federal Ministry of Environment at the Government Craft Centre. Port Harcourt, in Rivers State as part of the federal government’s effort to phase-out ozone harmful substances in line with the Montreal Protocol on Ozone-layer under the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP).
Speaking during the sensitisation, executive director of SRADev Nigeria, Dr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director, said the project aims to address the urgent need to reduce the emissions of F-Gases and ODS in Nigeria with a focus on the implementation of the Kigali Amendment. He informed that the Kigalli Amendment represents a global bold step to reduce the use of HFCs, and by doing so, significantly curb climate change.
Adogame, who was represented by Hannatu Abdul, emphased that as global efforts intensify to phase down the use of high-GWP hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), training technicians on the safe adoption and handling of alternative RAC (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning) technologies becomes a vital step in ensuring Nigeria transitions responsibly and effectively.
“This gathering speaks directly to one of the most pressing climate and development challenges of our time, the need for sustainable, climate-friendly cooling solutions. Technicians are at the heart of this transformation. Your expertise directly impacts the performance, safety, and environmental outcomes of cooling systems. This workshop is therefore more than just a technical session, it is a cornerstone in building national capacity and strengthening Nigeria’s commitment to environmental sustainability,” he said.
The SRADev executive director mentioned that without trained and certified technicians, the shift to low-GWP refrigerants cannot be achieved safely or effectively. “This training provides the knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to handle new technologies, improve energy efficiency, and protect both the environment and human health. The accompanying certification serves as official validation, ensuring that only certified technicians are authorized to handle these technologies in government institutions and for the general public,” Adogame further stated.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Environment, the designated National Authority through the National Ozone Office (NOO), facilitators, and other partners involved in making the workshop a reality. He also called on the federal government to accord and integrate trained and certified technicians into the decision-making process as well as professionalizing the practice in Nigeria.
“Your participation shows your readiness to be part of a global shift towards more sustainable cooling systems, and that is commendable. As we move forward, let us see this training as the beginning of broader efforts to build a robust, environmentally conscious RAC sector in Nigeria,” Adogame added.
Earlier at the opening session of the training which held between August 18th to 21st, the Director, National Ozone Office, Engr. Idris Abdullahi, represented by Ogechukwu Eze, stated that the program is a stepdown training being carried out in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), under the Hydrochrorofluorocarbonphase-out management plan project. The Director revealed that the intention is to ensure the phase out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon and adopt the use of hydrocarbons which is ozone friendly.
“Some of the refrigerant that are used in this sector are ozone-depleting substance. So the National Ozone office under ministry of environment has the mandate to implement the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer. The Montreal Protocol addresses the production a a consumption of ozone-depleting substances. So all the substances that are contributory to ozone depletion are being managed under the protocol,” Abdullahi said.
He hailed the enthusiasm of participants, stating that 100 technicians are being trained in each zone. He added that participants are expected to use refrigerant in a safer way after the training.
Participants who spoke with NatureNews at the training emphased the need for a law and regulatory body to check RAC practice in the country. They also urged the ministry of environment and its partners to distribute equipments to the registered technicians as most of them are either too expensive or not available in the market.
Ibadin Luckyson, the South South Zonal Vice President of tr Nigerian Refrigerator and Air-conditioning Practitioners (NARAP), said, “Now that the federal government has taken it up as a challenge to train technicians, I believe is a good achievement for our people. This orientation alone is to enhance the practice and how to safeguard lives on the cooking system and at the same time to preserve the ozone layer. And the only way that this training can be sustained is after the training, if the federal government or ministry of environment can distribute these equipment we are being trained on to practitioners.’
He advised practitioners to adhere with the training and employ the knowledge gained in their practice, saying it will help to protect lives and properties.
