Ozone depletion: FG moves to implement Montreal protocol, trains RAC technicians in S’South

As part of concerted efforts at implementing the Montreal Protocol on Ozone-layer depleting substances, the Federal Ministry of Environment, through its Ozone Office, has commenced a four-day training and certification programme for Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning (RAC) technicians across Nigeria.

The four-day programme which will be holding simultaneously in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano and Awka between August 18 and 21, followed the successful two-day train-the-trainers refresher programme, which was recently held in Abuja and was Nigeria’s broader effort to establish a National RAC Technician Certification Scheme, modeled after the EU’s F-Gas Certification process.

The training scheme aligns with the country’s commitments under the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP).

At the opening session for South-South zone in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday, the Director, National Ozone Office, Idris Abdullahi, represented by Ogechukwu Eze, stated that the programme was a step-down training being carried out in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the Hydrochrorical phase-out management plan project.

He revealed that the intention was to ensure the phase out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon and adopt the use of hydrocarbons which are ozone-friendly.

“Some of the refrigerants that are used in this sector are ozone-depleting substances. So, the National Ozone office under the Ministry of Environment has the mandate to implement the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer. The Montreal Protocol addresses the production of a consumption of ozone-depleting substances. So all the substances that are contributory to ozone depletion are being managed under the protocol,” Abdullahi stated.

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.

The Executive Director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria), Dr Leslie Adogame, said the project aim was 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 explained that the Kigalli Amendment represents a global bold step to reduce the use of HFCs, and by doing so, significantly curb climate change.

Adogame, represented by the SRADeV Nigeria Executive Director, Hannatu Abdul asserted that SRADev was a professional, non-governmental and non-profit think tank in environmental health research and development, advocacy and action organisation, actively involved in advancing the goals of the Montreal Protocol, particularly through its ongoing project “Promoting Fast Action to Reduce Emissions of Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (F-Gases) and Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).”

He emphasised 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 became a vital step in ensuring Nigeria transitions responsibly and effectively.

He added that without trained and certified technicians, the shift to low-GWP refrigerants cannot be achieved safely or effectively, stating, “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 called on the federal government to accord and integrate trained and certified technicians into the decision-making process as well as professionalising the practice in Nigeria.

Some participants at the training emphasised the need for a law and regulatory body to check RAC practice in the country, urging the Ministry of Environment and its partners to distribute equipment to the registered technicians as most of them were either too expensive or not available in the market.

Ibadin Luckyson, the South South Zonal Vice President of the 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 it is a good achievement for our people.

“This orientation alone is to enhance the practice and how to safeguard lives on the cooling system and at the same time to preserve the ozone layer.

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