Some Lagos residents have expressed concerns over the wide usage of Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) across markets, parties and retail spaces in the state in spite of the recent ban.
They expressed their concerns in separate interviews on Sunday, August 10, 2025, in Lagos.
Single-use plastics
Our correspondent who monitored the compliance in some areas of the state observed that nylon bags, plastic spoons, and other SUPs remain commonplace, particularly in areas such as Ikotun, Ayobo, Okota, Ajao Estate, Ajah and Iyana Ipaja, among others.
The Lagos State Government on July 1, 2025, commenced full enforcement of SUPs below 40 microns.
The enforcement followed the expiration of an 18-month moratorium granted after the initial announcement in January 2024.
The ban specifically targets styrofoam food packs, all forms of polystyrene cups (disposable cups), plastic straws, plastic cutlery, and nylon carrier bags with less than 40-micron thickness. PET bottles, sachet water, and thicker nylon bags are exempted from the ban.
Mr. Anthony Ewubare, a resident of Ikotun, said that provision stores in the area continue to use nylon bags as packaging for customers.
“It’s as if nothing has changed. Shops still hand you your goods in nylons like before,” he said.
Mrs. Itunu Owokade, who lives in Ayobo, shared a similar sentiment, stating that plastic spoons and disposable cups are still being used at social events.
“I attended a party last weekend, and it was the usual plastic plates and spoons. No change at all,” Owokade said.
Miss Blessing Okoro said the ban appeared to have made little impact in Okota.
“Even food vendors and traders still pack items in plastic bags,” she said.
Mrs. Funmilayo Ojo, a dealer of nylon bags at Iyana Ipaja Market, said the producers of the black nylon bags have stopped producing and supplying them in the area.
“What I am selling now is what remained of the last supplies of the producer. They have stopped producing this type in response to the Lagos State Government ban.
Our correspondent also observed that traders at the Iyana Ipaja Market were still openly selling nylon bags and other banned plastic items, suggesting low compliance and enforcement in some areas.
Also, sellers at Abule Market, Ajao Estate, are not left out.
A tomato seller at the market named Abu, disclosed that he would continue to use nylons until government provides an alternative.
In response to the public concern, the Director, Public Affairs of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Kunle Adeshina, acknowledged that while the ban has taken effect, complete compliance would take time.
“It is not unexpected that we still have instances of people trying to test the will of the law. We will continue to ramp up enforcement alongside sensitisation on the dangers of continued usage,” Adeshina said.
An environmentalist and Publisher of EnviroNews, Mr. Michael Simire, commented that it is still too early to fully assess the ban’s impact.
“The government’s efforts to enforce the ban and promote sustainable practices are steps in the right direction,” he said.
Simire disclosed that key areas to monitor as the policy progresses were reduction in plastic waste, especially styrofoam, in drainage and streets and increased use of eco-friendly alternatives by businesses and consumers.
He added that level of compliance across the supply chain – from producers to end-users – should be monitored too.
Simire noted that education, enforcement, and stakeholder engagement would be essential to achieving the intended environmental goals.
Indigenous Peoples, waste pickers, and unionised workers are jointly demanding a binding Global Plastics Treaty grounded in justice and human rights as the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) enters the second week in Geneva.
This is contained in a statement made available on Friday, August 8, 2025, in Lagos and jointly signed by the media representative of the groups.
Dr Leslie Adogame, the Executive Director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria) (right) in the company of some delegates
They are Nicolás Martínez, International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP); Catalina de Onís, Just Transition Alliance (JTA); and Cheyenne Rendon, International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Plastics (IIPFP).
The groups, representing frontline communities most affected by plastic pollution, have demanded that the treaty addresses plastics’ full lifecycle – from fossil fuel extraction to waste disposal.
They have also rejected “false solutions” such as plastic credits and market-driven schemes.
“Our food, water, and bodies are being poisoned by a crisis we didn’t create.
“The treaty must protect indigenous rights and knowledge,” said Viola Vi Waghiyi, a Yupik leader from Alaska.
The International Alliance of Waste Pickers, representing over 40 million workers, stressed the need for formal recognition and just transition measures.
The International Trade Union Confederation called for binding labour standards and safe working conditions across the plastics value chain.
“We are the ones facing this crisis on the streets and dumpsites,” said Soledad Mella, a waste picker leader from Chile.
The groups insist that, without power, resources, and decision-making in the hands of those most impacted, the treaty risks failing the communities it claims to protect.
However, a key Nigerian delegation to the meeting, Dr Leslie Adogame, the Executive Director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria), also corroborated these views.
Adogame stressed the need for Africans to speak with one voice, insisting that developed countries must finance efforts to tackle plastic pollution in Africa.
He urged the continent’s leading representatives to prioritise key African concerns, including capping soaring plastic production, and to commit to cutting it by 50 per cent by 2030 to curb its harmful impacts.
He tasked the leading voices representing the continent to focus on key African priorities, adding that a cap on the soaring productions of plastic was essential to reduce all the harms they cause, commit to the reduction of plastic production by 50 per cent by year 2030
“A Key African Priorities on the soaring productions of plastic is essential to reduce all the harms they cause, commit to the reduction of plastic production by 50 per cent by year 2030.
“Priorities such as global reduction of plastic production, financial and technical support, toxic chemical control, just transition for workers and waste trade reduction among others,” Adogame said.
The stakeholders in South-South region have stated that plans are in advanced stage for the evacuation of flood-prone communities amid disaster predictions.
The stakeholders from Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states responded to a survey on the extent of planning to check flood disaster.
Flooding in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
They also said that they had desilted the drains, embarked on public enlightenment to sensitise the residents on actions to reduce flooding, and for the rural communities to prepare themselves for evacuation.
Speaking in Cross River, Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Uyo Operations Office, said the agency had embarked on the assessment of the flood prone communities.
She added that the assessment was to find out whether or not the residents in the identified communities were ready to be evacuated.
Aisueni explained that in partnership with the state government, NEMA commenced the flood needs assessment programme in the three Senatorial District as a follow-up of a meeting earlier held on combating floods.
She added that at the end of the programme, they would do a report to the deputy governor, under whose purview is the State Emergency Management Agency, to take immediate action.
She also said that they instituted a programme titled, ‘’National Preparedness Campaign,’’ in respect of the 2025 flood prediction.
Aisueni said that the state governments and its agencies were expected to cascade information to the Local Government Areas that were identified as flood prone.
She, however, said that they had visited two communities, Ojuk North and Ojuk South, earlier in July to distribute relief materials to residents who suffered losses from an earlier windstorm that was accompanied by heavy rainfalls.
Similarly, Moses Osogi, the state Commissioner for Environment, said that the government started preparing for the rainy season very early with the desilting of its drainages especially in flood-prone areas.
He said that they also partnered with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to provide additional receptacle bins in the state to prevent waste disposal into drainages, adding that this increased the number of state receptacle bins.
“This was done to prevent complaints of not having where to dispose waste and so, filling the gutters with them.
“We also upscaled our awareness campaigns using different media channels just to change the mindset of the people in waste disposal and building on flood channels,” he said.
Osogi said that the state had also constituted a standing taskforce that would be going around to apprehend culprits of improper waste disposal in the state.
He said that among the objectives of the taskforce were to ensure that wastes were disposed between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily and the proper evacuation of the wastes by designated trucks.
According to him, poor waste disposal had been a major challenge fueling flooding in the state and they had to address it.
Also speaking in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, the NEMA Head of Operations, Aisueni, said that measures had been in place to check flooding and save lives.
She said that part of the measures was the commencement of sensitisation programme being carried out by NEMA and other stakeholders across the state to inform the people to make preparations in case of flooding.
She explained that other measures included involvement of radio stations to campaign on the importance of clean environments and desilting of the drainages among others.
“NEMA has been on top of the situation, managing the 2025 flood prediction as released by NiMET and NISER and our first point of call was to organise response campaigns which took place in June.
“The sensitisation campaign was attended by all stakeholders involved in disaster management, including the Deputy Governor, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi.
“We had interviews and sensitisation on Excel FM radio station, sensitising the people of Akwa Ibom state on the flood prediction’s outcome and what is expected of them.’’
Aisueni added that the Uyo Operations office was in communication with the Commissioner for Information, and had shared jingles and flyers with him for interpretation in the local languages and sending them to the local communities.
According to her, if you look around the NiMET prediction, you will see that it is mostly the local communities that are likely to be affected, like Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin and the likes.
Aisueni added that NEMA earlier informed the Commissioner for Environment on the areas likely to be affected by floods and for the state to prepare in the case of evacuation.
She explained that already, the agency had contacted the military and the 6th battalion had agreed to join NEMA team in case of emergency.
She said that they were to identify high grounds to be used as the state internally displaced persons’ camp to keep the people until the water ceased while modalities to handle emergency were in place.
Aisueni added that the stakeholders were ready in case of evacuation and that the state government was urged to stockpile items for wellbeing of the displaced persons including the children.
“There should be items available to cater for children, women, nursing mothers and their babies and the aged ones in case of evacuation; the state government must be in the forefront as the lead agency.
“There is need for attitudinal change by residents, because we have realised that whenever it rains, the people will release their waste into the drainages; people need to change their attitude to avoid blocking the drainages,’’ she said.
Dr Sunday Nditoi, an environmental consultant in Uyo, urged residents to make use of the available receptacles provided by government and not to dump their refuse into drainages.
Nditoi, who is a former state Director of Environment, Federal Ministry of Environment, said all drainages, outlets should be opened.
He called on residents not to build or live in flood prone areas to avoid impeding flooding, adding that there should be regular desilting of drainages by residents to avoid flooding.
Mr. Assam Abia, a veteran journalist, called on government to apply modern technology of curbing flood in the state.
Abia added that deep under ground drainage should be applied to checkmate flooding in the state, especially in Eket and its environs.
He advised the state government to put drainage system that would empty itself into ocean as the state is naturally prone to flooding.
Gov. Umo Eno had intervened in the flooded portion of Atiku Abubakar Avenue, in Uyo and directed the desilting of the drainages in the same avenue and across the state.
He also directed the construction of the adjourning Afaha Ube street and side drains to link Ikot Ekpene road with immediate effect, while instituting the monthly environmental exercise for a clean environment.
In Rivers, Mr. Eric Ebhodaghe, South-South Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, said that the agency had achieved 90 percent readiness to mitigate the anticipated flooding in both in Rivers and Bayelsa.
He stated that the proactive measures include enhanced early warning systems, large-scale flood simulations, and community sensitisation campaigns, to minimise the impact of potential flooding.
He explained that, following an early flooding warning, NEMA had swiftly mobilised both human and material resources to reduce the potential impact of flooding in the two states.
According to him, the agency also downscaled the early warning to the state governments and to all the local government areas, particularly those prone to flooding.
“We have also conducted a robust sensitisation and awareness campaign across various coastal communities and engaged relevant state governments for a collaborative response to the impending floods,” he said.
Ebhodaghe added that NEMA had held meetings with key emergency response agencies, including the military, NSCDC, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), State and Federal Fire Services, and ambulance services, to ensure they on high alert.
He also confirmed that NEMA had engaged with relevant state authorities on the management of Internally Displace Person (IDP) camps and the identification of safer grounds for potential relocation.
Other mitigation strategies include provision of medical supplies, desilting of waterways and drainage channels and engagement with local community volunteers to serve as first responders when the flood begins.
“NEMA has done quite a lot as part of our mitigation strategy to ensure minimal impact of the flooding.
“Given our level of preparation and the strength of our collaboration with stakeholders, we can confidently say that NEMA is 90 percent ready.
“We appeal to authorities at the state, local government, and community levels to ensure they act responsibly and carry out their roles as expected,” Ebhodaghe added.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres, has stressed the need for global support for youth-led solutions as a strategy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Guterres said that such support would also promote youth development and empowerment for peace and economic growth.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres
Guterres spoke at an event organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Nigeria, in collaboration with Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment (S.M.I.L.E.).
The event was held in observance of the International Youth Day (IYD) 2025, on Saturday, August 9, in Lagos.
The event had the theme: “Youth Localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
Guterres was represented by Dr Oluseyi Soremekun, the National Information Officer at the UN Information Centre, Abuja.
According to Guterres, young people are bold innovators, resilient and essential partners in achieving the SDGs.
Guterres said that youth-led solutions must be supported for peace and sustainability.
He said the UN had recognised the impact of the younger generation on economic growth and development.
“We have come to the recognition that when young people lead, the society thrives,” he said.
He said the youth must be celebrated and supported to achieve the aims of the SGDs.
According to him, IYD is a declaration by the UN General Assembly and is celebrated annually on Aug. 12.
“We have the responsibility to promote it, to amplify the message of the IYD with our partner, S.M.I.L.E., and we have been doing it for over 10 years,” he said.
He also charged youths not to be involved in things that would affect Nigeria’s peace and unity.
“We will not have SDGs without young people driving it.
“Youths must get involved in local actions and support peace processes anywhere they find themselves,” he said.
He urged the youth to avoid being used to destroy the peace of the country.
The President of S.M.I.L.E., Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins, said that the initiative was aimed to play a strategic role in the quest for building the next generation of leaders in Nigeria.
Bamgbose-Martins said that S.M.I.L.E. organised programmes to meet leadership needs of the youth.
She said that mentoring and leadership empowerment remained the most powerful tools to positively impact the next generation of leaders.
The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on SDGs, Dr Oreoluwa Finnih, commended the UN and S.M.I.L.E. for the partnership aimed at creating the next generation of leaders.
Finnih was represented at the event by her Technical Special Assistant, Mr. Oluwasegun Ojo.
She urged the youth to be part of the SDGs achievement by contributing their quotas for economic growth and development.
She said the Lagos State Government would remain committed to youth empowerment and development in line with the SDGs mandate.
Finnih urged the youth to ensure proper waste disposal by ensuring sorting of wastes for environmental sustainability.
Mr. Tunde Mabawonku, the Executive Director, Retail and Digital Banking, Wema Bank Plc., one of the partners, commended the UN and S.M.I.L.E. for creating a platform for youth empowerment to commemorate IYD.
Mabawonku noted that S.M.I.L.E. had been involved in many “exciting things” through its initiatives.
He charged the youth to be part of the “phenomenal enterprise”.
He added that the youth must revolve in mindset, skills and character to remain relevant.
During a panel session, Mr. Aduragbemi Fasakin, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Advic Farms, called on the youth to embrace agriculture for food security.
Fasakin spoke on the topic: “Showcasing Innovators and Youth-led Solutions to Accelerate the SDGs”.
He said that people would need to move from agriculture to agribusiness for food security.
“Young people need to come onboard early enough.
“Farming has moved beyond soil to soiless agriculture; it is the new gold in Nigeria,” he said.
Governments of Oyo, Ogun, and Kwara states have put in place proactive measures to mitigate the impact of flooding following predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) of possible heavy rainfall in parts of the country.
The state governments have said that public sensitisation, infrastructural interventions, and multi-agency coordination had been prioritised to reduce disaster risks in flood-prone areas.
Flooding in Ilorin, Kwara State
NiMet had forecasted increased rainfall and potential flooding in several states between July and August 2025, urging governments to implement preventive actions.
In response, state officials in Oyo, Ogun and Kwara said a series of preparatory efforts had commenced to safeguard lives and property.
Mr. Daniel Ajayi, Operations Officer of the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA), said the agency had collaborated with relevant stakeholders to ensure an effective response system.
“We have pre-positioned relief materials including foodstuffs, building materials, and household items in our warehouses to support affected residents if flooding occurs,” he said.
Ajayi noted that medical teams, in collaboration with the Red Cross, had been placed on alert. He added that continuous sensitisation campaigns were ongoing via radio, television, marketplaces, and public areas.
“We have also alerted residents in flood-prone communities to prepare for possible heavy rains,” he said.
According to him, the state government had cleared several river channels, particularly in high-risk zones, and warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of waste in drains.
Also speaking, the Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) South-West, Mr. Kadiri Olanrewaju, said the agency had conducted stakeholder engagements across affected local government areas in Ibadan, including Lagelu, Ona-Ara, and Egbeda.
He said, “The initiative aims to promote early action and preparedness. We’ve met with council chairmen and community leaders to develop coordinated responses.”
Olanrewaju stressed the need for inter-agency and inter-governmental collaboration, calling on local and state governments to take proactive steps.
“There is an urgent need to dredge waterways and deploy waste management trucks across the state. Many flooding incidents are preventable,” he added.
Mr. Johnson Adekola, Technical Officer with the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), said the agency had intensified its flood preparedness response since NiMet’s alert.
He said major rivers such as Agodi, Ogunpa, Ogbere, Omin, and Onipepeye had been cleared to ensure smooth water flow.
“Our structural and non-structural interventions include early warning systems, improved drainage channels, and sensitisation of residents along riverbanks,” Adekola said.
In Ogun State, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, said the government had begun its annual flood preparedness campaign since March, following NiMet’s prediction.
He stated that rainfall in the state was expected to range between 965mm and 1805mm, with dry spells projected between April and July.
“Flooding is part of our seasonal cycle, and we must prepare adequately. Our flood alerts help residents anticipate periods of heavy rainfall,” Oresanya said.
According to him, the first rains peaked in July with over 360mm of rainfall, while the second phase is expected in mid-August through September.
Oresanya explained that ongoing infrastructural interventions include the de-silting of over 988.3km of waterways, construction of 698 metres of drainage channels, and the dredging of the Opa Aro River.
“These efforts have reduced flood duration in areas like Isheri from six weeks to three weeks. We are also working closely with community leaders and CDAs at the grassroots level,” he added.
He urged residents, especially in flood-prone areas, to heed relocation advice, noting: “We are committed not only to reducing flood impact but also to achieving zero fatalities.”
Mr. Saheed Akiode, Zonal Director for NEMA South-West, also issued a flood alert, warning of possible flooding in several communities over the next 28 days.
“We’ve mobilised all relevant agencies, including the Ministries of Water Resources, Environment, and Health, to scale up preparedness,” he said.
Akiode urged state governments to clear blocked canals, monitor vulnerable communities, and stockpile relief materials.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government has advised residents to stay alert in anticipation of heavy rains accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms.
Mr. Agboola Olanrewaju, Director of Public Orientation in the Ministry of Communications, said the state had embarked on public sensitisation, particularly targeting those living near rivers.
“Relocation of residents in vulnerable areas is ongoing to prevent avoidable loss of life,” he said.
Olanrewaju also warned against movement during heavy rainfall and advised residents to unplug electrical appliances to avoid power surges.
He added that the state government was currently dredging the Asa River and clearing drainages within the metropolis to enhance flood control.
This week, delegates from around the world are gathered in Geneva to finalise what could be the most important environmental agreement of our time – the UN plastics treaty. The stakes could not be higher because plastics break down into micro- and nano-plastics that infiltrate the food chain, leach toxic chemicals into water and soil, harm wildlife, and accumulate in human bodies, posing escalating health, environmental, and climate threats that are already global in scale and effectively irreversible.
A powerful new report published in The Guardian warns that global chemical pollution is now “a threat to the thriving of humans and nature of a similar order as climate change.” The research, from Deep Science Ventures, estimates more than 100 million synthetic chemicals are in circulation, tens of thousands in everyday use, with mounting links to health issues such as infertility, cancer, and ADHD.
Tap water: A water fountain in Chicago. Photo credit: iStockphoto
The dangers aren’t theoretical. Over the past week, water safety crises have erupted in the headlines. In rural Alsace, France, an article from broadcaster franceinfo reported that residents have been told to boil tap water after bacteriological contamination was detected. And this week the BBC also published a story about how a joint investigation by Le Monde and Radio France revealed that at least one-third of bottled mineral water brands – including Perrier – have been allegedly treated illegally to remove bacteria, breaking EU rules and shaking public trust.
Founder and CEO of Bluewater, Bengt Rittri, an ecopreneur who earlier founded indoor air purification pioneer Blueair, has repeated his call for a robust, binding plastics treaty, warning that “microplastics, chemical leaching, and unsafe drinking water are interlinked threats demanding urgent, binding global action.”
At Bluewater, we see the connections every day. Microplastics don’t just litter oceans – they enter our drinking water. Toxic chemical additives can leach from plastics into food and beverages. And legacy pollutants such as PFAS (“forever chemicals”) continue to accumulate in the environment, with serious health consequences.
Bluewater believes no one should have to compromise on the safety of the water they drink.
The problems making headlines this week are global, urgent, and interconnected. The Geneva talks offer a rare chance to address them at their root. We urge negotiators to seize it – because clean, safe water should be a universal right, not a privilege.
Nigeria made history when Professor Ademola Adenle, one of the country’s foremost intellectuals and sustainability experts, was announced as the first-ever winner of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace.
Often referred to as a “mini Nobel Peace Prize,” the award was presented by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fifth left, is presenting The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace to Professor Ademola Adenle, fifth right, at the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi
The prestigious new global honour was established by TWAS in memory of the late Professor M.S. Swaminathan, the world-renowned agricultural scientist celebrated as the “Father of India’s Green Revolution”. His groundbreaking work transformed India’s food systems and inspired agricultural innovations around the world.
Professor Adenle, who serves as Senior Special Adviser on Agricultural Innovation in Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture, was honoured for his outstanding contributions to food security, climate justice, and the empowerment of vulnerable communities.
His work spans agricultural innovation policy, biosciences, renewable energy, and public health, with a focus on providing solutions to rural and marginalised populations in Africa and beyond. It also promotes for policies that prioritise climate-resilient agriculture, equitable technology access, rural infrastructure development, and farmer-supportive financing methods, particularly for women and youth.
In response to his announcement as the pioneer winner, he said, receiving this award is an incredible honour.
“As the son of a smallholder farmer, I witnessed firsthand the struggles of low agricultural productivity and rural poverty. This recognition reaffirms my lifelong commitment to advancing science and innovation that can transform agriculture, improve livelihoods, and build a more sustainable future,” he stated.
Prof. Adenle’s upcoming projects will include launching a Women in Biosciences Initiative to enhance rural agricultural productivity through training, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The initiative will also address public health challenges such as malnutrition and waterborne diseases, while advancing renewable energy solutions – particularly solar power – to tackle energy poverty. This work will be carried out in collaboration with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in both Africa and Asia, continuing Professor Swaminathan’s broader mission of combining science with social equity.
“The Global South faces enormous challenges in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals,” Prof. Adenle hinted. “But with investment in science and innovation, strong partnerships, and inclusive policies, we can accelerate progress. I dedicate this award to smallholder farmers and rural communities whose resilience has never stopped inspiring me.”
Prof. Adenle’s recognition underscores the increasing role of African scientists in shaping global sustainability agendas. This milestone not only cements Prof. Adenle’s position as a global leader in sustainability science but also serves as a call to action for governments, development agencies, and researchers to work together in building a more food-secure, just, and sustainable world.
In his address, Prime Minister Modi praised the laureates as “beacons of hope” for their dedication to addressing some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.
The M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace recognises individuals from developing countries who have made transformative contributions to food security, sustainable agriculture, and peacebuilding.
Renowned environmental science journalist and urban planner, Michael Simire, has charged young journalists to expose “greenwashing” and make climate issues relatable to Nigerian audiences in order to spark real change.
Addressing students of the National Broadcast Academy (NBA), Lagos, on Thursday, August 7, 2025, during a session organised by Career Development with Augustina Armstrong-Ogbonna (CDWAA) Cohort 2.0 in collaboration with the academy, Simire warned against superficial environmental coverage. He urged aspiring reporters to dig deeper into corporate and government claims of eco-friendliness, stressing the watchdog role of the press.
Students of the National Broadcast Academy (NBA), Lagos, during the presentation
Drawing from his career, including his selection as a 2008 and 2009 Climate Change Media Partnership (CCMP) Fellow of the Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN), he encouraged students to localise global climate narratives to capture public interest and spur accountability.
Responding to questions on safety in covering sensitive environmental and renewable energy stories, Simire, who is Editor-in-Chief of EnviroNews, advised prioritising security and, where necessary, using pseudonyms to protect vulnerable sources.
He also identified critical thinking, curiosity, and thorough research as key skills for building a career in development and environmental journalism. He suggested story ideas such as investigating plastic pollution in local waters and assessing the role of tree planting in environmental health.
Michael Simire in a group photo with some students of the National Broadcast Academy (NBA)
On tackling “audience fatigue” in climate reporting, Simiire recommended blending global and local perspectives, using relatable language, and leveraging social media to highlight government inaction.
NBA management welcomed his visit and expressed readiness for further collaborations with the Augustina Armstrong-Ogbonna CDWAA Foundation to groom the next generation of environmental journalists.
Four days into the final Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Geneva, civil society organisations (CSOs) are bothered that the world is not on track to deliver a treaty that will protect people and nature.
They are therefore demanding a change, even as they join the voices of waste pickers, frontline communities, scientists, healthcare professionals, children and youth, women, businesses, and non-governmental organisations around the world to call on governments to step up.
Campaigners seek a strong global plastic treaty. Photo credit: Samuel Schalch / Greenpeace
“Fix the process, keep your promise, and finalise a meaningful treaty to end plastic pollution,” they insist.
In a reaction to the current state of the Plastics Treaty negotiations, Break Free From Plastic Movement submitted: “People worldwide have made it clear: they support decisive action to cut plastic production, consumption, and pollution. A majority of governments have endorsed these demands, yet negotiations are stalling with a small group of petro- and plastic-producing states deploying delay tactics, with no sign that they intend to raise ambition.
“With just days remaining, the dynamic must change. Countries must keep their commitment to end plastic pollution. They must use every tool available to deliver a strong treaty – one that includes legally binding rules on production and chemicals, uplifts real solutions, safeguards human rights and protects frontline communities. There is no room left for compromise that weakens ambition. The world is watching.”
The Business Coalition for Global Plastics Treaty is bothered that, at the midpoint of INC-5.2, negotiations are running out of time, with no clear path to an agreement. It adds that the current approach is not delivering the progress needed to reach a meaningful outcome by the end of next week.
The group stated: “Governments committed to leaving Geneva with a strong treaty must act decisively. They must leverage all means available and support the INC Chair to establish an effective process. The time for incremental steps has passed.
”Governments must be bold, guided by the clear ask from the majority of countries, businesses, and civil society to deliver a robust agreement with harmonised regulations across the full lifecycle to address plastic pollution.The Business Coalition stands ready to support negotiators in achieving this outcome.”
“Plastic pollution is a global challenge, and global regulation is needed to effectively alleviate the situation. Harmonised regulations drive consistency across borders while supporting national ambitions and provide the lowest cost option to effectively address plastic pollution,” said Tove Andersen, CEO at TOMRA and Spokesperson for a Business Coalition for Global Plastics Treaty.
“At Borealis, we’ve long championed circularity. Through innovation and partnerships, we’ve shown that sustainable plastics solutions are possible. However, to scale these solutions globally, we need a level playing field,” said Stefan Doboczky, CEO at Borealis.
“We’re at a unique moment in time where business, civil society, and a majority of countries are calling for harmonised regulation on plastic pollution. The time to act is now,” stated Jodie Roussell, Global Public Affairs Lead, Packaging and Sustainability at Nestlé and Spokesperson for a Business Coalition for Global Plastics Treaty.
“Our economic analysis suggests that harmonised regulations could more than double global extended producer responsibility revenues to $576 billion, driving a scale up of collection and recycling,” noted Sabine Strnad, Global Lead Circular Economy and Packaging at Henkel and Spokesperson for a Business Coalition for Global Plastics Treaty.
“We want to scale solutions that tackle plastic pollution, and a treaty with harmonised regulations will make this easier for businesses to do,” said Ed Shepherd, Senior Global Sustainability Manager – Circular Economy at Unilever and Spokesperson for a Business Coalition for Global Plastics Treaty.
“Our economic analysis shows that harmonised regulations can drive stable job creation, with 2.3 million more jobs being created, particularly in waste management,” stressed Ali Golden, Director of Strategic Relationships at TerraCycle and Spokesperson for a Business Coalition for Global Plastics Treaty
“Our economic analysis shows that harmonised regulations on product design alone can create $50 billion per year in additional economic value for materials in the plastics recycling value chain,” said Rob Opsomer, Executive Lead Plastics & Finance, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
“Business supports a treaty with harmonised regulations because it drives regulatory consistency across borders while supporting national ambitions,” saidConrick Gallagher III, VP of Partnerships at Okeanos.
The Centre for International Environmental Law stated: “After three years of trying to work by consensus, the negotiations are now at a breaking point.
“What was meant to be a global effort to solve the plastics crisis has stalled. As in the climate space, it’s the countries least responsible for the problem that are fighting hardest for an ambitious treaty, we see some of the countries least responsible for the plastics crisis holding the line for ambition while producers are in a race to the bottom, with some even questioning whether the treaty is about plastic.
“This cannot continue. Member States must use every tool of multilateralism at their disposal and move forward with solutions that aren’t hostage to those defending the status quo.
“Anything less will fall short of the ambition promised in UNEA resolution 5/14 – and fail the people and planet this treaty was meant to protect.”
“The Global Plastics Treaty must enable a process for effective decision-making,” states Merrisa Naidoo, GAIA Africa Plastics Programme Manager. “To avoid earnest negotiations amounting to nothing, negotiators must demonstrate courage, not compromise by calling for a majority vote when consensus cannot be reached. If we continue to stall in consensus, we trade progress for paralysis.”
Rafael Eudes of Aliança Resíduo Zero Brasil states, “It is time to use decision-making tools that allow willing counties to move forward instead of letting a few run negotiations around in circles. A strong treaty with majority support beats a weak treaty that caters only to the few. Governments need to hear civil society’s urgent demand for ambition – the credibility of multilateralism and the planet’s future is on the line.”
Youth Plastic Action Network (YPAN) stated: “We are deeply concerned by the deadlock, the unwillingness to compromise, and the deliberate and malicious delays we are witnessing.
“Failing to reach an agreement at INC-5.2, failing to report back to UNEA, and failing to deliver on Resolution 5/14 is not just a procedural catastrophe. It is an acceptance that the deliberate actions to block a treaty today will have an intergenerational multiplier effect, undermining the health of present generations, degrading our shared ecosystems, and putting at risk the well-being of all future generations.
“Additionally, a failure at INC-5.2 would be yet another devastating blow to an already faltering multilateral order.
“We call upon all Member States to rise above individual interests, to demonstrate ambition, and to engage constructively in negotiations aimed at securing an outcome that advances the collective interest of all. For the sake of our futures, we need meaningful action now.”
Graham Forbes, Head of the Global Plastics Campaign for Greenpeace USA as well as the Greenpeace delegation for the treaty negotiations, commented: “In Busan and Nice, governments have shown ambition, which means reducing plastic production. A weak and effective treaty would be a betrayal that would further increase the burden on the countries of the Global South and encourage the world’s biggest polluters. All countries that have shown ambition must step up and adopt a treaty that reduces plastic production. They must have confidence because the public supports them and relies on their leadership and action.
“Multilateralism must work for those who need it most. The consensus failed because of the tyranny of a minority. Ambitious countries must deliver on their promises, or they will be remembered as those who let the world choke on plastic. Governments have promised to be ambitious. They must now deliver on their promises, without compromise.”
Erin Simon, Vice President, Plastic Waste & Business, World Wildlife Fund, said: “We’re nearly halfway through INC-5.2 and the same, tired tactics are still causing gridlock at the negotiating table. We’ve been here before, and we know the same old playbook doesn’t work.
“With so much at stake, the cost of inaction will have devastating consequences for generations to come. If we can’t turn this around, we risk leaving Geneva either empty-handed or with an empty treaty. It’s time for the majority to find their voice, choose a path and leave a legacy of progress not pollution.”
Margaret Spring, Chair, International Science Council Expert Group on Plastic Pollution, said: “Scientific evidence remains unchanged by negotiations, and provides an objective basis for sound decision-making now and in the future. This science is clear: impacts to human health and the environment from plastic pollution occur across the full life cycle of plastics.
“The International Science Council and our colleagues in the scientific community are ready to support the critical opportunity before delegates to demonstrate that multilateral cooperation informed by science can address the challenges of our time and protect human health and the environment from plastic pollution.”
The Asteven Energy Institute has made history by holding its maiden matriculation ceremony for 17 pioneer students of the 2024/2025 academic session.
The students are the first in the country to undertake a National Diploma in Solar Technology and Management.
Matriculating students at Asteven Energy Institute
Held on Friday, August 8, 2025, the event went beyond the traditional gowns and oaths, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s renewable energy capacity-building efforts.
For Dr Sunny Akpoyibo, President and Founder of the Asteven Group, the ceremony was the realisation of a long-held dream.
“To see this dream come true with a generation that will transform Nigeria’s energy revolution is deeply fulfilling,” Akpoyibo said.
He recalled Nigeria’s missed opportunities in the renewable energy sector – vast sums invested in energy access projects with little to show in terms of skilled manpower development.
“In Nigeria today, billions of dollars have come in for access to energy for underserved communities,” he said, citing examples of $550 million and $750 million investments in successive years.
“But we must ask ourselves: who utilised the money? Where was the professional labour force to execute these projects?” he asked rhetorically.
He lamented that, unlike the UK and Germany, which had certified solar technology professionals, Nigeria still lacked a trained and accredited workforce.
He stressed that the Asteven Energy Institute was created to fill that void.
“This is the first in Nigeria to be approved by the National Board for Technical Education and the Ministry of Education for a National Diploma in Solar Technology,” he declared.
“You are the future of the 2050 net-zero goals we talk about. The time will come when you won’t be looking for jobs – the jobs will look for you.”
The president revealed that the development of the curriculum took two and a half years and costs ₦35 million.
“The curriculum we developed here in Nigeria has now been adopted in India,” he noted, underscoring its quality and relevance.
“This journey is bigger than a certificate,” Akpoyibo said.
“It’s about setting standards, creating a legacy, and powering communities with clean energy.”
Akpoyibo commended the parents, guardians, and dignitaries in attendance for believing in the Institute’s vision.
He gave special recognition to former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who inaugurated the Institute during his tenure.
The Rector of the Institute, Prof. Magnus Onuoha, described the matriculation as a milestone that moved the institute beyond the short certificate courses it had offered since 2018.
“With this programme, we are producing graduates for the renewable energy workforce,” he said.
“Our vision is clear – to raise a generation of green professionals who are globally competitive.”
Onuoha noted that since its inception, Asteven Energy Institute had trained over 3,000 individuals in solar technology solutions across its campuses in Lagos, Abuja, and Warri.
But the introduction of the diploma programme, the rector emphasised, represented a “bold step” in Nigeria’s quest for clean energy self-sufficiency.
Addressing the 17 matriculating students, Akpoyibo and Onuoha issued a joint charge: to be focused, disciplined, and relentless in their pursuit of excellence.
The graduates of its National Diploma in Solar Technology and Management will not only meet Nigeria’s renewable energy manpower needs but will also shape the country’s contribution to the global fight against climate change.
As the applause rang out and the new students donned their matriculation gowns, one thing was clear.
These 17 young men and women are not just students – they are the torchbearers of Nigeria’s clean energy future.
