The Federal Government has approved N2 billion in the 2026 budget for the establishment of standard laboratories to strengthen scientific research and improve the movement of research outputs to the market.
The Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the 7th Annual Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS). The two-day conference has the theme, “From Research to Market: The Making of Knowledge-Based Economies.”
Lawal, who was represented by the Director-General of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr Bello Bwari, said the approval followed concerns about the lack of standard laboratories required to guarantee the safety and credibility of products emerging from research institutions across the country.
“We have been able to bring the National Agricultural Seed Council, and the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) to develop a programme,” Lawal said.
“The programme will ensure the movement of research done around our institutions, creation of value and that they got to the markets, for food security.
“As part of urgency and in spite of paucity of funds, standard laboratories are required for the safety of most of the products being researched.
“I am glad to inform you that the President has approved the sum of N2 billion in the 2026 budget for us to get that lab as quickly as possible,” he said.
Lawal said the government had brought together key agencies, including the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), NABDA and NBMA, to drive research commercialisation and improve food security outcomes.
He added that a national working group had been constituted to reduce gaps in agriculture and food security by identifying and promoting completed research projects.
“One of such projects is a cowpea research initiative by the Institute of Agricultural Research, Zaria,” Lawal said.
“It is aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, which is expected to commence after the first quarter of the year,” he added.
Speaking at the conference, Retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Marwa, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said human capital remained the most valuable asset in any knowledge-based economy.
Marwa, who was represented by Malam Hamisu Lawal, said substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking posed serious threats to productivity, focus and mental resilience required for research and innovation.
“The reality is that human capital is the most valuable asset in any knowledge economy,” he said.
“This asset is under constant threat from the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
“For research to thrive, we require a workforce that is healthy, focused and mentally resilient and at the NDLEA.
“We view science, not just as a tool for forensics, but as the backbone of our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA),” he said.
Marwa said the agency was moving away from traditional enforcement methods toward evidence-based approaches, including upgrading its laboratories to transform chemical research into actionable intelligence.
According to him, the agency is utilising research to map out drug use prevalence, ensuring that interventions are targeted and effective.
He expressed the agency’s commitment to supporting scientific institutions, saying, “A knowledge-based economy cannot be built on the ruins of a drug-addicted generation and NDLEA stands as a partner in progress.
“We will ensure that the environment in which your research operates remains secure, sane and productive,” he said.
Also speaking, the President of the Network of African Science Academies, Prof. Ekanem Braide, said Africa remained underdeveloped due to challenges in translating research outcomes into economic growth.
Braide said the conference theme aligned with efforts to strengthen collaboration among national science academies across Africa to promote sustainable development.
Similarly, Dr Kyari Mohammed, Director of the African Union Scientific, Technical and Research Commission, said Nigeria already had policies on research commercialisation, but implementation remained a challenge.
Mohammed urged Nigeria to prioritise investment in human capital, citing countries such as Singapore and China that transformed their economies through investments in science and innovation. He said coordination would improve research outcomes.
