NATIONAL AUTHORITY ON CHEMICAL & BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

INTRODUCTION

The Political and Economic Affairs Office serves as the Secretariat of the National Authority on Chemical Weapons Convention which helps to facilitate Nigeria’s fulfillment of its obligation as a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Similarly, in October 2003, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation approved that the Secretary National Authority on CWC should take on the additional responsibility for the implementation of the Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) in Nigeria. Since then, the implementation of both the CWC & BTWC are supervised by the secretariat now designated as the National Authority on Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions (NAC&BWC).

FUNCTIONS
  • To coordinate and oversee the implementation of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions;
  • To serve as the National Focal Point for effective coordination of the activities of the relevant MDAs in the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and Biological Weapons Convention (CWC&BWC);
  • The NAC&BWC acts as the liaison for relevant Stakeholders in relating with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is the global implementing body of the CWC based in The Hague, Netherlands and Biological Weapons Convention-Implementation Support Unit (BWC-ISU) in Geneva, Switzerland for effective implementation of the Conventions;
  • Sensitizing relevant national stakeholders involved in the implementation of the CWC and BWC through interactive fora such as meetings, seminars, workshops, amongst others;
  • Organizing meetings of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions on quarterly or bi-annual basis or as the need may arise;
  • Screening and endorsement of applications from eligible Nigerians seeking sponsorship to attend Capacity Building Programs/Training organized by the OPCW;
  • Facilitating admission/employment of qualified Nigerians to occupy positions at the OPCW;
  • Conducting obligatory Industrial Declaration/Inspection visits to chemical   industries nationwide to ascertain the peaceful use of imported Scheduled Chemicals and their exact quantity and declare same to the OPCW;
  • Developing and maintaining relevant institutional policy and infrastructural frameworks for effective national implementation of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions;
  • Fostering enduring partnerships for purposes of building relevant national capacities with intent to meet Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions obligations;
  • Fostering the peaceful use of Chemistry and Biology;
  • Collaboration with relevant Agencies in Nigeria such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Bio-safety Management Agency, amongst others, to protect Nigeria and Nigerians from Biological threats;
  • Coordinating the implementation of National Chemical and Biological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (NC&BEPRP);
  • Facilitating the process of payment of Nigeria’s annual assessed contribution to the OPCW and BWC-ISU;
  • Representation at the statutory meetings of the OPCW and BWC; and
  • Submission of Annual Declaration (data on Scheduled Chemicals) to the OPCW as well as submission of Confidence Building measures (CBM) to the BWC – ISU as at when due

MEMBERS OF THE INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE

Members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions include the following:

  • National Authority on Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions (NAC&BWC);
  • Ministry of Defence (Defence Headquarters);
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA);
  • Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMS&T);
  • Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv);
  • Federal Ministry of Education (FMEdu);
  • Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (FMPR);
  • Federal Ministry of Justice (FMoJ);
  • Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH);
  • Federal Ministry of Information and Culture (FMI&C);
  • Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI;
  • Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMA&RD);
  • Federal Ministry of Interior (FMoI)
  • Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA);
  • Directorate of State Services (DSS);
  • National Intelligence Agency (NIA);
  • Nigeria Immigration Agency (NIS);
  • Nigeria Customs Service (NCS);
  • Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
  • Federal Fire Service (FFS);
  • National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC);
  • National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA);
  • National Universities Commission (NUC);
  • National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA);
  • National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA);
  • National Orientation Agency (NOA);
  • National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT)
  • University of Abuja (UNIABUJA);
  • Sheda Science and Technology complex (SHESTCO)
  • Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN);
  • Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce,
  • Industry, Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA);
  • Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON);
  • Nigeria Police Force (NPF);
  • Institute of Chartered Chemist of Nigeria (ICCN);
  • Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN) (Abuja Chapter).