The Federal Government has approved ₦2 billion in the 2026 budget for the establishment of standard laboratories aimed at strengthening scientific research and boosting the commercialisation of research outputs in Nigeria.
The Minister of Environment, Mr. Balarabe Lawal, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja at the 7th Annual Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS). The conference, which runs for two days, is themed “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 was driven by increasing concerns over the absence of standard laboratories needed to ensure the safety, credibility, and market readiness of products developed by research institutions.
According to him, the lack of such facilities has continued to limit the effective translation of research findings into valuable products, particularly in areas related to agriculture and food security.
He explained that key government agencies, including the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), and the NBMA, have been brought together to design programmes that will support the movement of research outputs from laboratories to the marketplace.
Despite funding constraints, Lawal stressed that the establishment of standard laboratories remains urgent, noting that they are essential for validating research products and accelerating their adoption.
He added that a national working group has also been set up to bridge gaps in agriculture and food security by promoting completed research projects. One of such initiatives is a cowpea research project by the Institute of Agricultural Research, Zaria, aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and expected to commence after the first quarter of the year.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brigadier-General Mohammed Marwa, described human capital as the backbone of any knowledge-based economy.
Represented by Malam Hamisu Lawal, Marwa warned that substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking pose serious threats to the productivity, focus, and mental resilience required for innovation and scientific advancement.
He said the agency was increasingly adopting evidence-based approaches, including the upgrade of laboratories, to transform scientific research into actionable intelligence. According to him, research is also being deployed to map drug use patterns and ensure targeted interventions.
Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting a secure and productive environment for research, noting that sustainable economic growth cannot be achieved if human capital is undermined by drug abuse.
Meanwhile, the President of the Network of African Science Academies, Prof. Ekanem Braide, said Africa’s underdevelopment is largely linked to difficulties in converting research outcomes into economic growth.
He noted that the conference theme aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration among science academies across the continent to promote sustainable development.
Similarly, the Director of the African Union Scientific, Technical and Research Commission, Dr. Kyari Mohammed, observed that while Nigeria has policies on research commercialisation, poor implementation remains a major challenge.
He urged the country to prioritise investment in human capital, citing nations such as Singapore and China as examples of economies transformed through sustained investment in science, technology, and innovation.