The Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, says the country has intensified efforts to bridge its infrastructure deficit, estimated at $2.3 trillion between 2020 and 2043.
Ewalefoh said this during a sideline interview after the global infrastructure facility, A G20 initiative at the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Spring Meetings, in Washington on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
He said that the country required about $100 billion annually for 23 years.
Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr Jobson Ewalefoh
Ewalefoh said that budgetary allocations fell short, making private sector participation through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) critical for infrastructure development nationwide.
He said Nigeria’s Infrastructure master plan projected 70 per cent private sector funding, stressing the need for bankable project pipelines, supported by institutions like the global infrastructure fund to mobilise investors globally.
According to him, discussions at the forum emphasised that PPP models must reflect local realities, including investment risks, political environment, and limited appetite for long-term capital in developing economies like Nigeria.
Ewalefoh said that Nigeria was positioning itself as a viable investment destination, citing a population of about 250 million and government reforms aimed at improving business climate and boosting investor confidence nationwide.
The D-G also assured investors of strong legal frameworks protecting investments, emphasising commitment to rule of law, contract sanctity, and policies designed to guarantee returns and reduce perceived risks in Nigeria.
Ewalefoh said that the energy and transport sectors were priority areas, requiring about 759 billion dollars and 595 billion dollars respectively.
He also cited ICT, agriculture, healthcare, and education as critical sectors needing substantial investment support.
According to him, the PPP offer solutions to funding constraints, reducing reliance on limited government budgets, while enabling sustainable infrastructure financing through long-term investment recovery mechanisms by private investors.
Ewalefoh said that ongoing engagements would unlock investment flows, accelerate project delivery, and position Nigeria to achieve its infrastructure goals through strategic collaboration with global investors and development partners.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for all the reforms he initiated, especially for creating an enabling environment for PPP to flourish.
President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with global financial leaders on the sidelines of the IMF World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., as part of efforts to deepen investment flows and strengthen partnerships in Nigeria’s energy and industrial sectors.
Dangote also delivered the keynote address at the launch of the World Bank Group’s flagship global initiative, Water Forward, a programme aimed at repositioning water systems from basic social utilities into catalysts for industrialisation, job creation and large-scale economic growth across emerging and developing economies. He underscored the critical role of private sector investment and infrastructure in unlocking the economic value of water.
President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, in a meeting with the President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, at his office on the sidelines of the IMF World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., United States, on April 14, 2026
The event drew a distinguished audience including heads of government, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, leaders of European development institutions, multilateral development partners, ministers of finance and economic planning from over 100 countries, central bank governors, global regulators, business executives and donor agencies, reflecting the scale and urgency of the initiative.
In separate engagements, Dangote met with the President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, and the President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, John Jovanovic. Discussions focused on private sector-led growth, macroeconomic reforms and unlocking financing for large-scale infrastructure, trade expansion and industrial development across Nigeria and Africa.
The engagements come at a time of renewed momentum in Nigeria’s energy sector. The country became a net exporter of petrol in March 2026 for the first time in decades, as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals drove a shift from import dependence to local production. Data from Kpler shows Nigeria exported about 44,000 barrels per day of petrol during the month, slightly exceeding imports and resulting in a net surplus of roughly 3,000 barrels per day.
This milestone aligns with Dangote Group’s newly unveiled long-term growth strategy, “Vision 2030: Supercharging Dangote Group for Long Term Success,” a two-phase expansion programme spanning 2025–2028 and 2028–2030.
Under the plan, the Group aims to scale and optimise its existing operations while expanding capacity across key sectors. This includes increasing the capacity of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day, as well as quadrupling fertiliser production from 3 million tonnes per annum to 12 million tonnes per annum, a move expected to position the company as the world’s largest producer of urea.
The strategy also outlines expansion across cement, rice and broader food production, alongside new investments in infrastructure such as ports and pipelines, gas, mining, data centres and power, identified as critical to Africa’s industrial transformation and digital resilience.
Analysts say the high-level meetings reinforce Dangote Group’s strategic positioning at the intersection of global capital and Africa’s industrial growth, amid increasing international focus on Nigeria’s economic reforms and rising refining capacity.
The IMF World Bank Spring Meetings convene policymakers, business leaders and development partners from across the globe to deliberate on economic outlook, financial stability and pathways for sustainable growth.
Electric cars are sold as clean. But, in southern Congo, communities near the Tenke Fungurume mine are breathing toxic air and reportedly paying with their health.
Women and children are especially affected. Reports describe nosebleeds, coughing up blood, miscarriages and forced displacement as cobalt extraction expands.
According to observers, the shift away from oil is increasingly becoming a toxic transition built on poisoned communities. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Stellantis are being urged to stop sourcing cobalt linked to this mine until the pollution is brought under control and people’s rights are respected.
Cobalt mining in Congo
The Rainforest Rescue group is leading the campaign and urging stakeholders to sign a petition to tell the carmakers that public health comes before profit.
The group stated: “The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is by far the world’s largest cobalt producer, with more than 70 percent of the market. Without Congo’s cobalt, high-tech industries and the energy transition would stall. Manufacturers such as VW, BMW, and Mercedes rely on it.
“But the rush for cobalt, coltan, rare earths, gold, and bauxite has devastating consequences: Forests are cleared, landscapes plowed up, mountains levelled, rivers diverted, and air, water, and soil polluted. Working conditions are often dire, and exploitation is widespread.
“In eastern DRC, exploitation also fuels violence. In North and South Kivu, hundreds of thousands are fleeing and thousands dying.”
John Hayduska of Rainforest Rescue submitted that people in southern Congo’s “copper belt” are bearing the brunt.
“According to the study Toxic Transition by Environmental Investigation Agency US (EIA) and PremiCongo, the Tenke Fungurume (TFM) mine and the 30k processing plant emit sulfur dioxide (SO2) far above safe or legal levels. Communities, especially children and women, suffer serious health problems, including vomiting blood, life-threatening respiratory infections, and stillbirths, while more than 10,000 people have lost their homes as the mine expands.”
EIA and PremiCongo hold Chinese CMOC Group Ltd (CMOC) – owner and operator of the Tenke Fungurume mine – responsible.
CMOC’s cobalt is used by BMW, Mercedes, and Volkswagen for electric vehicles.
EIA and PremiCongo presented the study to the companies named in it. The full statements from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and TFM are available on the EIA website.
Hayduska added: “Automakers should not turn a blind eye when their demand for raw materials causes harm. Tell them to clean up their supply chains and stop purchasing cobalt from TFM until the pollution issue is resolved.”
Director General/Chief Executive of Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, will deliver the 10th edition of The Bullion Lecture. The theme of the lecture, which is scheduled to hold on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, is “From Resources to Prosperity: How Raw Materials Development, Value Addition and Innovation Can Catalyse Nigeria’s Industrial Renaissance”.
Ike-Muonso is a distinguished Natural Resource Economist and Academic Leader with over 30 years of expertise in raw material market dynamics, supply chain economics, and research commercialisation. As the Director General of RMRDC, he sits at the intersection of industry, policy, and academia, driving Nigeria’s transition from a resource-exporting nation to an industrial powerhouse.
Director General/Chief Executive of Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso
Ike-Muonso is the chief architect of the landmark 30% Value-Addition Bill, a transformative legislative mandate requiring local processing of all extracted raw materials prior to export. This initiative, coupled with his aggressive advocacy for the prohibition of imports for locally abundant resources, is designed to secure Nigeria’s economic sovereignty and fortify domestic industrial linkages. Under his leadership, the RMRDC is repositioning Nigeria as a central production hub for the African continent.
Prior to his current role, Ike-Muonso served as CEO of ValueFronteira Limited, a premier commodities research and data analytics firm. His career is marked by high-level consultancies and strategic partnerships with global institutions, including multilateral organisations (The World Bank, UNDP, European Commission, ECOWAS); development partners (USAID, DFID, FCDO); and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), and academic institutions (Lagos Business School and Edinburgh Business School).
According to a statement in Lagos by Dr. Ray Echebiri, Founder/CEO of Centre for Financial Journalism, organisers of The Bullion Lecture, the 2026 edition of the lecture (10th in the series), will be chaired by Otunba Kelvin Dele Oye, Chairman, Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics and former President of National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). HRH Jacob Esan, Chief Executive Officer of Geo Fliuds Plc, and Mr. Christian Udechukwu, Commissioner for Industrial Development, Anambra State, will dissect the guest lecturer’s presentation as panelists.
The event will feature the presentation of the book Pathways to Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Transformation. Edited by Dr. Ray Echebiri, the book is a compilation of the text of The Bullion Lecture from 2016 to 2026.
Expected guests at the lecture include government officials, captains of industry, academics, banking and finance executives, energy sector players, manufacturers, maritime executives, ICT professionals, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of multilateral institutions, media practitioners, members of the public.
The Buganda Road court in Kampala, Uganda, will on Friday, April 17, 2026, sentence eight anti-EACOP activists after convicting them on a nuisance on road charge last week. The activists, some of whom are students, have already spent over eight months in remand since their arrest on August 1, 2025, while peacefully protesting Stanbic Bank Uganda’s decision to finance the controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
According to campaigners, their arrest and repeated denial of bail, leading to months in detention, reveal a clear pattern of pre-trial punishment designed to intimidate activists and silence opposition.
Protesting activists in Uganda. Photo credit: Isaac Ssentumbwe
“Keeping accused persons on remand for more than eight months for a ‘nuisance on roads’ offence whose maximum sentence on conviction does not exceed one year raises serious concerns about proportionality, fairness, due process, and legitimate democratic expression. It has cost these young people their freedom, their studies, and valuable time with their families. Those linked to this case, including the banks at the centre of the protest, should not remain silent,” said lawyer Brighton Aryampa.
The group, StopEACOP Campaign, stated that it witnessed a similar pattern in April 2025, when 11 StopEACOP activists protesting KCB Bank Uganda’s involvement in EACOP were arrested and spent three months in remand as their case was repeatedly adjourned and bail denied.
It added that, in both instances, major financial institutions whose support for EACOP was being challenged remained silent while activists were dragged through the courts and kept away from their families, studies, and livelihoods for engaging in peaceful protest.
“Stanbic Bank Uganda, like KCB before it, remains silent even as young people are punished for calling on it to withdraw support from this destructive project,” added the group.
StopEACOP Campaign Coordinator, Zaki Mamdoo, said: “At COP28, when I confronted TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné over the arrest of yet another group of anti-EACOP activists, he confirmed to me that the company was in direct communication with Ugandan authorities over the detention of those activists. That demonstrates that the companies behind EACOP are not passive observers of the repression meted out by the authorities.
“They have channels of influence available to them. So when Stanbic and others remain silent while young people are jailed for attempts at engaging their decision makers, that silence is far from neutral. It is a measure of what they are willing to tolerate in defence of EACOP.”
On this basis, the StopEACOP campaign says it denounces the systemic weaponisation of the Ugandan judiciary to protect EACOP project proponents and their financial backers from scrutiny by Ugandan citizens. The campaign insists that TotalEnergies and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) cannot continue with business as usual when citizens are jailed on their behalf for peacefully protesting their project.
“These students were arrested for a legitimate protest against the Stanbic Bank’s financing of a project with well-documented human rights concerns. They are clearly human rights defenders, and as such Stanbic and its owner Standard Bank have clear responsibilities to respond. This includes speaking out against their conviction, and using all its leverage to call for their release for these unjust charges to be overturned. So far they have just stood by, apparently content to benefit from repression. This is unacceptable,” said Ryan Brightwell from BankTrack.
The StopEACOP coalition demands that specific magistrates involved in this judicial misconduct be held accountable and that key bodies like the Uganda Law Society (ULS), the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), and the East Africa Law Society (EALS) take this matter seriously, holding their members accountable and upholding the rule of law.
The coalition also calls on the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders to urgently take up the matter, given the clear implications for the rights to protest, organise, and engage in democratic and lawful dissent. In the same breath, the coalition draws the attention of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to investigate if these magistrates are operating under threats or intimidation, or whether there is, as we suspect, external interference preventing them from performing their duties professionally.
“When peaceful protestors spend more than eight months in remand for opposing an oil pipeline, we are no longer looking at justice. We are looking at repression organised around the protection of corporate power. These eight activists should be free, and the banks and fossil fuel interests benefiting from this climate of fear must be named and held accountable,” said Kumi Naidoo, President of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has commended the Southfield Petroleum Ltd. (SPL), Utorogu, Delta State, 200 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) Gas Processing Plant.
Ekpo said this on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the groundbreaking ceremony of SPL held at the Utorogu gas processing plant site.
SPL is in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), with the aim of addressing Nigeria’s persistent gas supply shortfall for power generation and industrial growth.
L-R: Dr Patrick Ndiomu, Chairman, Southfield Petroleum Limited; Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Ph.D.), Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Dr Abdulmalik Halilu, Director, Corporate Services, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB); and Ejiro Dortie, GM, Commercial Ventures Division, NCDMB, at the groundbreaking ceremony of Southfield Utorogu Gas Processing Plant, Delta State, on Tuesday
He said the development of the 200 MMSCFD gas processing facility would stimulate significant capital inflow, create direct and indirect employment opportunities, and catalyse industrial growth across multiple sectors.
“By increasing the availability of processed gas for the domestic market, this project will support power generation, boost manufacturing productivity.
“In addition, the production of Natural Gas Liquids, particularly Liquefied Petroleum Gas, will deepen domestic gas utilisation, reduce import dependence, and stabilise supply within the local market.
“This directly contributes to price moderation and expands access to clean energy for millions of Nigerians,” he said.
He said from an environmental perspective, the plant would contribute meaningfully to NIgeria’s gas flare reduction commitments and broader climate objectives.
“The utilisation of gas as a transition fuel supports lower carbon emissions compared to traditional fuels such as diesel and biomass, thereby advancing cleaner energy use across households and industries.
“The increased availability of LPG will help accelerate the shift away from firewood and other harmful cooking fuels, reducing deforestation, indoor air pollution, and associated health risks, particularly for women and children.
The minister said that the project holds immense promise to the host community.
“Beyond job creation during both construction and operations, it is expected to stimulate local enterprise development, improve infrastructure, and create sustainable socio-economic opportunities.
“I urge the project promoters to maintain strong community engagement, ensure inclusive participation, and deliver on corporate social responsibility commitments that will leave lasting positive impacts in the area,” he said.
Ekpo, however, said the Utorogu Gas Processing Plant represents a critical piece of infrastructure in our journey towards a gas-powered economy.
“By processing wet gas into lean gas for reinjection into the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System, this facility will significantly enhance domestic gas supply, supporting power generation and industrial activities across the country.
“As a government, we remain committed to providing an enabling environment through transparent regulation, investment-friendily policies, and sustained support for gas infrastructure development.
“We will continue to work closely with all stakeholders-including investors, regulators, and host communities-to ensure the successful and timely delivery of this project.
“The targeted phased completion, beginning with Phase 1 by November 2026, is both commendable and achievable, and we encourage Southfeld Petroleum Ltd. to maintain this momentum,” he said.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, urged the community leaders to protect the facility with everything that they have.
Lokpobiri said the economic impact of this project will be substantial, saying that it would generate direct and indirect employment opportunities.
“It will also create business opportunities in logistics, fabrication, operations, maintenance, and other support services.
“For the host communities and neighbouring areas, this project will stimulate infrastructure development, create job opportunity and skills transfer, and increase commercial activities,” he said.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of SPL Utorogu Ltd., Mr. Pius Aigbomeikhe Bawa, underscored the strategic importance of the project in supporting national priorities, including the Federal Government’s “Decade of Gas” initiative.
“This project represents a major step forward in the Federal Government’s commitment to gas commercialisation, reduction of gas flaring, and the advancement of Nigeria’s energy transition goals.
“It will not only strengthen domestic gas supply but also create sustainable economic opportunities for our host communities and the nation at large,” Bawa said.
He added that the Utorogu Gas Processing Plant would enhance domestic gas availability for power generation and industrial growth and support the Federal Government’s gas flare reduction initiatives.
Mr. Felix Ogbe, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, said the investments would make significant contributions to the economic growth and development of the Niger-Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
“The event marks the milestone in the Board’s collective drive to deepen Nigerian content, expand domestic gas utilisation, and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a gas-powered economy in line with the Decade of Gas’ declaration.
“Today’s ceremony is a testament to the power of strategic collaboration.
“This project represents a partnership between the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and Southfield Petroleum Limited under the special purpose vehicle, SPL Utorogu Ltd.
“This is, indeed, a reflection of the board’s commitment to promoting bankable investments that will make significant contributions to the economic growth and development of the Niger-Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
According to him, the 200mmscfd gas processing facility to be developed here is designed to process wet gas from the OML 34 field, remove impurities, and produce valuable products including Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
“Propane and condensate, while also supplying lean gas into the domestic pipeline network.
He said when the processing plant is completed it is expected to produce approximately 123,000 metric tonnes of LPG per annum. This will significantly improve domestic cooking gas availability and reduce reliance on LPG importation.
“Beyond LPG production, the project will also deliver about 22,000 metric tonnes of propane and 72,000 metric tonnes of condensate annually, thereby improving value extraction from Nigeria’s gas resources and strengthening the midstream value chain,” he said.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called for urgent action to address persistent gender inequality in the oil and gas industry, calling for inclusive leadership and equitable opportunities for women.
Mrs. Vanessa Phala-Moyo, Country Director of the ILO to Nigeria, made the call on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the ongoing Third Edition of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Women Convention in Abuja.
The theme of the convention was “The Dynamic Woman: Shaping Tomorrow; Influence, Impact and Legacy”.
Vanessa Phala-Moyo, Country Director of the ILO to Nigeria
Phala-Moyo said women remained underrepresented and undervalued in key decision-making positions despite ongoing global conversations on gender equality.
She described gender equality in the oil and gas sector as “more illusion than reality,” noting women still face systemic barriers to leadership and technical roles across the industry.
“Gender equality in the oil and gas sector remains more of an illusion than reality, as women continue to face systemic barriers to leadership and technical roles.
“Women are still largely underrepresented in decision-making positions, and their contributions in the industry are often undervalued.
“Without deliberate and sustained action, the energy sector will continue to exclude women from opportunities that shape its future,” Phala-Moyo said.
According to her, women are largely underrepresented in decision-making roles, while their contributions remain undervalued.
She warned that lack of deliberate action would continue to exclude them from shaping the sector’s future.
“Structural barriers still limit women’s access to technical, leadership, and high-paying roles, identifying occupational segregation, restrictive norms, wage inequality, and weak labour law enforcement as key challenges.
“Women are often confined to administrative roles, while leadership and technical positions remain dominated by men, limiting their participation in critical decision-making processes.’’
Phala-Moyo said even when women secured roles in the sector, they faced unequal pay and slower career progression compared to their male counterparts.
According to her, the global energy transition presents both opportunities and risks. Women and young people could face disproportionate job losses if inclusion is not prioritised.
“The energy transition must not leave women behind. Inclusive leadership is essential for fairness, better policy outcomes, and building resilient institutions,” she said.
She called for stronger legislative frameworks, enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, and adoption of gender-responsive policies, while urging increased participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
Phala-Moyo also urged trade unions and industry players to adopt gender-responsive collective bargaining to tackle inequalities and ensure safer, more inclusive workplaces.
Also, Mrs Ada Mbanaso, National Chairperson of the PENGASSAN Women Commission, urged women to prioritise impact over titles and embrace leadership that drives meaningful, lasting change.
She encouraged women to use their influence to uplift others, promote mentorship, inclusion, and amplify their voices in shaping decisions across workplaces, communities, and nation in general.
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has disbursed N250 million in grants to 51 entrepreneurs under its 2026 Vocational Innovation and Business Empowerment Scheme (VIBES).
The company disclosed this in a statement issued by its Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, Mrs. Anne-Marie Plamer-Ikuku.
According to the statement, 103 participants from NLNG host communities were inducted into the programme.
51 entrepreneurs receive N250 million grant under NLNG sponsored Vocational Innovation and Business Empowerment Scheme (VIBES) at the closing ceremony in Port Harcourt
Speaking at the event, NLNG General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr Sophia Horsfall, said beneficiaries emerged after a competitive pitch-a-thon.
Horsfall said participants presented business ideas and funding needs before a panel with selections based on viability, scalability and sustainability.
“What we are doing with this funding is bridging the gap between learning and execution.
“Many small businesses struggle at the stage where they have knowledge but lack capital to move forward,” she said.
She explained that the grants would enable entrepreneurs to implement ideas, stabilise operations, and position their businesses for growth.
Horsfall said the initiative aligned with NLNG’s commitment to sustainable community development through capacity building and financial support.
“The scheme will strengthen businesses, create economic value, and provide sustainable livelihoods in host communities,” she added.
In his remark, NLNG Manager, Community Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr. Yemi Adeyemi, commended participants for their dedication.
Adeyemi said the funding would help beneficiaries expand operations, improve productivity, and create jobs.
He reaffirmed NLNG’s commitment to supporting enterprise development and building local capacity in its host communities.
The pitch-a-thon concluded a four-week intensive business training programme.
Participants were equipped with practical skills in financial management, business strategy, marketing and operations to strengthen their enterprises.
In what appears to be a bold step toward environmental restoration and community-driven sustainability, the Environmental and Green Initiative for Sustainability (EGIS) on Friday, April 10, 2026, led a transformative riverbank clean-up exercise in Lafenwa Community, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The project, tagged “Project River-Care”, focused on tackling riverbank pollution and safeguarding the Ogun River, one of the community’s vital water sources.
The exercise mobilised 50 volunteers, alongside stakeholders from government ministries, environmental organisations, and recycling partners.
Participants at the transformative riverbank clean-up exercise in Lafenwa Community, Abeokuta, Ogun State
Participants included representatives from the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), the YALI Network Ogun, the Nigerian Youth Council, and private-sector partner Orange Strategy Waste Value.
Volunteers were deployed to four riverbank locations around Lafenwa, where they collected and evacuated roughly 530 kilogrammes of waste, including plastics and other solid materials. The activity not only cleared the riverbank but also raised crucial awareness among residents about proper waste disposal and its link to flooding, water contamination, and public health risks.
According to Surajdeen Alabede, Chairman and Founder of EGIS, the initiative marks “a significant step in restoring environmental sanitation and promoting community accountability for waste management.”
He commended the efforts of the EGIS team, volunteers and expressed appreciation to the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, most importantly, Mrs. Mary Durojaye, Director of Environmental Conservation and Resource Management, and Mrs. Abosede Siyanbola, Head of Market Sanitation and Special Duties Unit under OGWAMA, for their support.
Other important personalities present at the site included Oluwadamilare Oladotun, EGIS Executive Director; Titilayo Falaiye, representative of Orange Strategy Waste Value; and environmental advocates Michael Adefioye, Moyosoreoluwa Adebiyi, Yunuz Olashiji, and Priscilla Ohere. Their shared vision emphasised the power of grassroots collaboration to drive measurable environmental impact.
One of the volunteers, Alabi Olawale, a final-year student of Environmental Management and Toxicology, said that “the exercise was more than just a clean-up; it was an opportunity to drive environmental change and inspire collective responsibility. It was fulfilling to engage the community and highlight that careless waste disposal harms us all. Real change begins when we take responsibility for our environment.”
Beyond its immediate results, Project River-Care lays the foundation for ongoing efforts to protect water sources and promote sustainable waste management. EGIS plans to sustain the momentum through a multi-stakeholder dialogue webinar that will convene government representatives, recycling partners, environmental experts, and local advocates to explore long-term strategies for riverbank sanitation and water resource protection.
The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – notably SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water) – by fostering cleaner environments, improving waste management systems, and strengthening community resilience.
With Project River-Care, EGIS and the people of Lafenwa have shown how small collective actions can make a lasting environmental impact, proving that community effort remains at the heart of a sustainable future.
The developers for the 175 Park Avenue in New York City have submitted permits for the proposed supertall skyscraper by SOM in Midtown Manhattan, which would become the third tallest in the city if completed.
Developers RXR Realty and TF Cornerstone have brought attention back to the project, which was originally announced in 2019.
The skyscraper would replace a Hyatt hotel next to Grand Central Station, taking advantage of 2010 zoning changes that allowed adjacent buildings to reuse the air rights of the station.
The proposed SOM skyscraper in New York City
KFP’s 1 Vanderbilt supertall skyscraper sits on the other side of the station. SOM‘s design, originally released in 2021, has been preliminarily approved by the city, with a reduced height of 1,545 feet with 83 storeys of hotel and office programming.
Because of the extremely complicated building conditions, with very few available points for ground penetration, the structure features an external steel lattice support system that comes together at condensed points at the base.
“The metal columns intertwine into two bundles on 42nd Street; below ground, they navigate a multistory tangle of underground rail tracks and anchor into the limited available bedrock,” said SOM.
Smaller steel cables would run between the large columns, coming together in “bundles” at the base.
“At street level, the bundles are set away from the edge of the property line, a configuration that widens the sidewalk to improve circulation outside Grand Central,” SOM said.
The tower steps back with the steel lattices running parallel along the facade and coming to V-shaped supports at each setback, culminating in another lattice form at the bulkhead.
At the setbacks, the outdoor amenity space would be tucked under the slanting steel columns, and the studio has said that the interior would be mostly column-free.
Part of a more overarching restoration of the space around Grand Central, the building would come down right next to the storied transit terminal, with a partially covered entry programme connecting directly to the facade of the station.
The base would connect with a “new transit hall” featuring retail.
As of now, the studio has 2032 as the official completion date on the website, but no signs of construction or demolition are apparent at this time.
The Hyatt Grand Central New York, which replaced the historic Commodore Hotel in the late 1970s, was a joint venture of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation and the Trump Organisation. Trump was bought out in the late 1990s.
This structure would need to come down before any construction could start, a demolition which could take months if not years to carry out in the busy heart of Manhattan.
As of now, the hotel’s website appears to be taking bookings through April 2027. The SOM skyscraper developers are still working to secure funding and tenants for the proposed building.
If completed, the skyscraper would be the third tallest in the city. Central Park Tower at 1,550 feet tall (472 metres tall) is currently the second tallest.
The Midtown rezonings of the 2010s have led to an explosion of skyscraper production, with a skyscraper by Russian studio Meganom being built just south of the SOM site on Park Avenue.
Nearby, JPMorganChase recently completed its Foster + Partners-designed supertall skyscraper headquarters, which was built after the demolition of an SOM structure.
