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Manufacturers urge Lagos to reconsider plastic ban decision

Michael Simire
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Manufacturers urge Lagos to reconsider plastic ban decision

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Lagos State Government to reconsider its decision to ban Single Use Plastics (SUPs), effective July 1, 2025.

Single-use plastics
Single-use plastics

Its Director-General, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, in a statement on Monday, June 23, said the decision is not informed by credible data and claims.

The state government had announced its plan to ban SUPs due to its adverse health and environmental impact.

Ajayi-Kadir, however, noted that the state Ministry of Environment had yet to publish any study to substantiate the claim.

He said that the ban, if allowed to take effect, would be riddled with adverse economic and social impacts on the state and the country.

The MAN D-G stated that, on the contrary, plastic was a versatile and highly durable material that supported mankind in various endeavours across industries.

He said that it was the failure of management of plastic waste that may result in adverse environmental and social impacts.

“MAN shares the global concern on the challenges created by plastic waste mismanagement.

“We recognise that a policy environment that enables circularity is indispensable in ending plastic pollution in Nigeria as a country and globally.

“The approach to achieving circularity in the plastic system needs to be life-cycle oriented, contextually relevant, and systemic, with strong consideration for the interaction of the societal system, human behaviour, and environmental impacts,” he said.

Ajayi-Kadir noted that the ban pronouncement process was not inclusive, participatory or consultative.

He said that addressing SUPs waste mismanagement through a ban would not bring a sustainable solution, but a replacement for the polluting material.

He noted that evidence had shown that the major cause of SUPs pollution in Nigeria, Lagos inclusive, was a function of inadequate waste collection and management systems.

Ajayi-Kadir said that enormous economic, environmental, and social benefits were associated with advancing circularity through improved recycling solutions.

“The global plastic recycling industry was valued at $55.71 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $114.18 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3 per cent between 2025 and 2032.

“Providing an enabling environment for expanding mechanical and or chemical recycling in the state should be a major priority.

“Therefore, advancing provision for improving plastic waste collection is critical to fully harness the associated value.

“State governments need to support improved plastic recycling with infrastructure, especially the leasing of lands as dumpsites for sorting at scale to enable recyclers access plastic feedstocks,” he said.

The MAN D-G listed consequences of the ban to include adverse economic, operational, and social implications across the value chain.

Ajayi-Kadir emphasised that manufacturers understood the need to evolve into recent trends of re-usable plastic products, improved product design that aligned with circularity, and cleaner production processes.

He said the plastic industry sector under the association was committed to transitioning to newer business models, fostering expansion in mechanical and chemical recycling.

He added that the sector was also exploring the production of plastic from biomass and captured carbon, while adopting cleaner disposal systems.

“These developments should be enabled with the availability of circular feedstock and government incentivising investments in these circular solutions.

“MAN will continue to work collaboratively with producer responsibility organisations as prescribed by the National Sectoral Regulations to fulfil our obligations across the country.

“It is therefore unhelpful and needlessly disruptive to introduce parallel arrangements in any state in the country,” Ajayi-Kadir said.

By Rukayat Moisemhe

GreenFaith launches initiative to facilitate Nigeria’s transition to renewable energy

Michael Simire
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GreenFaith launches initiative to facilitate Nigeria’s transition to renewable energy

GreenFaith Nigeria has unveiled the Africa Grassroots Women of Faith in Energy (AWFE) project as part of its efforts to promote climate justice, empower women and accelerate the nation’s energy transition.

GreenFaith
A group of faith-women during the official launch of the Africa Grassroots Women of Faith in Energy (AWFE) in Bodo, Rivers State

Launched in Bodo, a community in Rivers State that has been under a siege of oil spills and environmental degradation for many years, the initiative will also assist in encouraging the adoption of homegrown renewable energy alternatives.

The flagging off of the project in the country is said to be a testament to the momentum built during the Pan-African Multi-Faith Women’s Conference, which was hosted in 2024 by GreenFaith Africa in Accra, the capital of Ghana.

With this feat, Nigeria has joined other African countries in adopting the AWFE project, including Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This step also represents its collaboration with others to demand immediate action against the growth of fossil fuels, enforce corporate accountability, and emphasise women’s leadership in renewable energy alternatives.

Speaking about the programme, which was supported by Bread for the World, Dr. Pius Oko, the Regional Programme Manager for GreenFaith, said it marked a turning point for the locals, who are now demanding change after being traumatised by fossil fuels.

Despite the fact that Bodo was once a significant contributor to the nation’s abundant oil wealth, Dr. Oko bemoaned the fact that the community is still suffering from decades of oil spills, contaminated rivers, and lost livelihoods.

“The AWFE initiative seeks to equip women with the tools, voice, and leadership to champion a just energy transition, starting right here in Bodo,” he stated.

Maryne Warah, Global Director of Programmes and Director of GreenFaith Africa, focused her interest on the importance of a faith-based and women-led approach to addressing environmental degradation.

According to her, Nigeria, like many other frontline nations, is dealing with climate shocks, flooding, drought, and energy scarcity, all of which exacerbate poverty and hunger.

Warah, on the other hand, boosted optimism by stating that “women of faith are rising to demand real solutions that are locally owned, inclusive, and sustainable.”

Mrs. Rose Baribeop, the Bodo women’s representative, issued an unambiguous call to action, demanding that all new fossil fuel exploration and extraction in Ogoni and elsewhere be halted immediately.

“Oil companies must clean up their mess, pay reparations, and vacate our communities,” she asserts.

Baribeop advocated for increased investment in women-led, community-based renewable energy solutions, climate finance, and green jobs.

Rev. Sister Lilian Chibiko voiced her displeasure of the fact that more than 85% of Africa’s fossil fuels are exported at the continent’s expense.

“Communities like Bodo are left without energy, drowning in pollution and poverty,” says the Catholic nun who serves as the AWFE project’s focal point for women.

The AWFE project’s launch is expected to help establish grassroots energy circles to advocate for equitable clean energy access, train faith-based women leaders to deploy clean energy in homes and community centres, and demand oil company reparations, Ogoni land cleanup, mangrove restoration, and support for women-led economic initiatives.

In conclusion, the grassroots women of faith made a joint appeal to the Nigerian government and international stakeholders, urging an immediate halt to new fossil fuel projects and related financing in favour of a scaled-up, just energy transition that is affordable, accessible, and locally controlled. They are also looking for additional funding and financial instruments to help women-led renewable energy ventures.

By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja

Nigeria looks to industry in a bid to limit plastic pollution

Michael Simire
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Nigeria looks to industry in a bid to limit plastic pollution

Amble down a side street or canal in Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital of Lagos and chances are you’ll find empty water sachets, used takeaway containers and other types of plastic packaging.

Nigeria
Nigeria has embraced the extended producer responsibility as a strategy to tackle plastic waste pollution

The litter is symptomatic of a larger plastic pollution crisis gripping the country of 227 million people, the most populous in Africa.

But things could start changing within the next few months. Nigeria is poised to introduce a series of regulations – developed with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – that will make companies that produce and use plastic packaging responsible for countering plastic pollution. Packaging is the single-largest source of plastic waste in the country, according to government data.

Nigeria is one of a growing number of countries that have embraced this type of legislation, known as extended producer responsibility. Pioneered in Europe more than three decades ago, extended producer responsibility regulations have helped some countries counter a wave of waste from plastic packaging and products, which was swamping municipalities. Nigeria’s leaders are hopeful the legislation will do the same there.

“Extended producer responsibility as a strategy shifts the responsibility of waste management to the producers, adopting the polluter pays principle,” said Innocent Barikor, Director General of Nigeria’s National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.

During the last two decades, plastic production and plastics imports have surged in Nigeria, overburdening the country’s municipal waste management systems. Most of plastic waste in Nigeria is either burned, dumped in the open or tossed into water bodies, research suggests.

Nigeria’s new extended producer responsibility regulations will make companies part of the solution to addressing this pollution, not only municipalities. The regulations would require companies that produce, import, distribute and sell plastic packaging to fund what are known as producer responsibility organisations. These non-profit entities would then be tasked with reining in pollution from packaging, which is the source of 63 per cent of all plastic waste in the country, according to one government document, the National Guideline for the Implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility Programme on Packaging (Plastic).

The extended producer responsibility regulations also call on companies to develop alternatives to plastic packaging and launch programmes to reuse containers. As well, plastic producers will be required to fund recycling efforts, make their packaging easier to recycle and use a minimum amount of recycled content.

Nigeria is now developing a plan to implement the regulations, with the support of UNEP. They are expected to come into force within the next few months, says Barikor.

Some countries have had extended producer responsibility laws for more than five decades. Along with plastic, the legislation has been used to rein in pollution from paper, batteries, appliances – even car parts.

One study from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found some long-standing extended producer responsibility regulations have helped bolster recycling rates, relieved financial strain on overwhelmed municipalities and provided stable sources of funding for anti-pollution efforts.

One country that has seen success is France, which began applying extended producer responsibility laws to household waste in the early 1990s. The regulations have been credited with helping to drive up recycling rates. Today, France recycles 67 per cent of household packaging and 27 per cent of plastic, according to Citeo, a producer responsibility organisation in the country. The global rate for plastic recycling is 9 per cent, finds the OECD.

The French regulations have also spurred companies to address the root causes of plastic waste, encouraging firms to develop refill programmes, embrace more eco-friendly designs and find alternatives to plastics in certain products.

However, experts say extended producer responsibility by itself is not enough to end plastic pollution. They say it should be part of a larger suite of policy changes, including the phasing-out of unnecessary and problematic plastic products, the promotion of re-use or refill programmes, an overhaul of product design standards, and the improvement waste management standards.

“There is no single solution to plastic pollution,” says Elisa Tonda, the Chief of the Resources and Markets Branch at UNEP. “But extended producer responsibility is one of several important tools because it helps channel much-needed financial resources and business solutions into addressing this mounting crisis.”

UNEP provided Nigeria’s government with advice on how to structure and implement its extended producer responsibility regulations for plastic packaging. The effort received financial support from the Government of Japan and the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund.

More than 40 food and beverage companies, along with plastics industry representatives, have already joined Nigeria’s Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, a producer responsibility organisation, says Barikor. He expects those numbers to rise once the regulations come into force.

Several companies have taken steps to reduce plastic pollution, including by switching from coloured to clear plastic bottles, which are easier to recycle, he adds. Others have begun using up to 50 per cent recycled material in their packaging.

Challenges remain, though. Many plastic producers are still unaware of the programme and the Nigerian government needs to strengthen its ability to track compliance with the regulations, officials say.

“We won’t be shy to say that we need more capacity and more support for logistics in order to make this happen,” says Barikor. “However, with the collaboration and support of other federal government ministries, departments and agencies, as well as private and international organizations, we are confident to have a great, positive impact.”

By 2029, Nigeria is aiming to dramatically increase the amount of plastic products it collects and recycles. Among other targets, Barikor says bottles made from one common type of plastic, polyethylene terephthalate, should contain 25 per cent recycled material. That’s a nine-fold increase from today.

“We feel we have a programme that can work for the country, and if fully implemented, will make a positive difference in the lives of people and for the state of the environment,” says Barikor. 

Climate groups call for accountability, ambition from COP30 Presidency

Michael Simire
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Climate groups call for accountability, ambition from COP30 Presidency

In a press conference held on Monday, June 23, 2025, leading voices from the climate justice movement responded to the COP30 Presidency’s plenary session at the UN climate talks in Bonn.

Andre Correa do Lago
COP30 President, Andre Correa do Lago

Activists and climate groups are urging a stronger, more accountable path forward, gathering earlier in the day holding banners calling for the tripling of renewable energy, a full and fair phase-out of fossil fuels, and the inclusion of Indigenous and traditional leaders at the heart of COP30 decision-making.

At the press conference, speakers from across the Global South emphasised that the world cannot afford another summit of empty promises. They called on the COP Presidency to deliver the tripling renewable energy capacity and phase out fossil fuels in the negotiated outcome, and for Indigenous and traditional people to meaningfully participate in the leaders’ segment and official agenda.

Monday’s messages were clear: 1.5°C is a lifeline, not a target to be negotiated. The Global North must deliver new, additional public finance to meet its climate debt, and frontline communities must be empowered as leaders in global climate governance. Only through ambition grounded in justice can COP30 deliver the outcomes the world urgently needs.

Alia Kajee, Global Campaign Project Manager, 350.org, says: “At home in South Africa, 88 people died in flooding just this month. Droughts, storms, and heatwaves are intensifying. Food and energy costs are rising while a handful of billionaires profit and prop up the industries that pollute our lands, air and waters while the vulnerable carry the burden of climate impacts and the cost of life. We ask the COP30 Presidency: Will you match our courage, or will you let history remember you as the government that wrote sophisticated letters, but failed to walk the talk?”

Claudio Angelo, Head of International Policy, Observatório de Clima, says: “Brazil is the best presidency you could get for a climate conference, given the context we have today with wars and the expansion of fossil fuels everywhere. The issue is more that there is a lot on their plate right now.

“They do have a plan, and they are trying to innovate in a COP format, but the issue is that simply the context is not favoring much ambition right now. But it’s not game over yet. If one country can do it, at a climate conference, especially looking at the last three presidencies, Brazil can deliver – but it can’t do it alone.”

Cacique (chief) Ninawá Inu Huni Kui, says: “We are here to reaffirm that we are not invited to simply occupy seats at global decision-making tables; we are holders of ancestral knowledge and guardians of the territories that guarantee life on the planet. Indigenous peoples and local communities are not spectators in the climate debate: we are protagonists and have the right and commitment to guide paths towards fair and sustainable change.

“This is not an option. It is a vital necessity for each and every one of us. Let’s transform this global battle into a joint and equal action, so that all voices are heard and all strategies are strengthened by the Indigenous and traditional presence.”

Dr Sindra Sharma, International Policy Lead, Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, says: “I am born of and a product of the Pacific, a region that did not cause this crisis, but is paying for it every day. It’s been 10 years since the Paris Agreement, and what do we have to show for it? In every country, planetary boundaries are being crossed, emissions keep rising, and fossil fuel subsidies are not falling.

“The problem is not a lack of science; it’s a failure of political will. For us, the 1.5C limit is a red line. As we move toward COP30 we hope this is the moment we can reclaim 1.5C, as our time is running out. We’ll continue to defend 1.5C and the science. But know this, our resilience is not your excuse to not act. We must maintain the required ambition.”

Tobacco control efforts protect 6.1bn people – WHO report

Michael Simire
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Tobacco control efforts protect 6.1bn people – WHO report

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday, June 23, released its report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin, warning that action is needed to maintain and accelerate progress in tobacco control as rising industry interference challenges tobacco policies and control efforts.

tobacco smoking
According to scientists, tobacco smoking is dangerous to health

The report focuses on the six proven WHO MPOWER tobacco control measures to reduce tobacco use, which claims over 7 million lives a year:

  • Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies;
  • Protecting people from tobacco smoke with smoke-free air legislation;
  • Offering help to quit tobacco use;
  • Warning about the dangers of tobacco with pack labels and mass media;
  • Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and
  • Raising taxes on tobacco.

Since 2007, 155 countries have implemented at least one of the WHO MPOWER tobacco control measures to reduce tobacco use at best-practice level. Today, over 6.1 billion people, three-quarters of the world’s population, are protected by at least one such policy, compared to just 1 billion in 2007.

Four countries have implemented the full MPOWER package: Brazil, Mauritius, the Netherlands (Kingdom of the), and Türkiye. Seven countries are just one measure away from achieving the full implementation of the MPOWER package, signifying the highest level of tobacco control, including Ethiopia, Ireland, Jordan, Mexico, New Zealand, Slovenia and Spain.

However, there are major gaps. Forty countries still have no MPOWER measure at best-practice level and more than 30 countries allow cigarette sales without mandatory health warnings.

“Twenty years since the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, we have many successes to celebrate, but the tobacco industry continues to evolve and so must we,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “By uniting science, policy and political will, we can create a world where tobacco no longer claims lives, damages economies or steals futures. Together, we can end the tobacco epidemic.”

The WHO Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report, developed with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, was launched during the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control. The awards celebrated several governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) making progress to reduce tobacco use.

“Since Bloomberg Philanthropies started supporting global tobacco control efforts in 2007, there has been a sea change in the way countries prevent tobacco use, but there is still a long way to go,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies and WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries. “Bloomberg Philanthropies remains fully committed to WHO’s urgent work – and to saving millions more lives together.”

The WHO Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report reveals that the most striking gains have been in graphic health warnings, one of the key measures under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), that make the harms of tobacco impossible to ignore:

  • 110 countries now require them – up from just 9 in 2007 – protecting 62% of the global population; and
  • 25 countries have adopted plain packaging.

WHO warns, however, that enforcement is inconsistent, and smokeless tobacco packaging remains poorly regulated. The new report is accompanied by a new data portal that tracks country-by-country progress between 2007–2025.

Despite their effectiveness, 110 countries haven’t run anti-tobacco campaigns since 2022. However, 36% of the global population now lives in countries that have run best-practice campaigns, up from just 19% in 2022. WHO urges countries to invest in message-tested and evaluated campaigns.

Taxes, quit services and advertising bans have been expanding, but many improvements are needed:

  • Taxation: 134 countries have failed to make cigarettes less affordable. Since 2022, just three have increased taxes to the best-practice level.
  • Cessation: Only 33% of people globally have access to cost-covered quit services.
  • Advertising bans: Best-practice bans exist in 68 countries, covering over 25% of the global population.

Around 1.3 million people die from second-hand smoke every year. Today, 79 countries have implemented comprehensive smoke-free environments, covering one-third of the world’s population. Since 2022, six additional countries (Cook Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Uzbekistan) have adopted strong smoke-free laws, despite industry resistance, particularly in hospitality venues.

There has been a growing trend to regulate the use of e-cigarettes or ENDS – Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems. The number of countries regulating or banning ENDS has grown from 122 in 2022 to 133 in 2024, a clear signal of increased attention to these products. However, over 60 countries still lack any regulations on ENDS.

WHO is calling for urgent action in areas where momentum is lagging.

“Governments must act boldly to close remaining gaps, strengthen enforcement, and invest in the proven tools that save lives. WHO calls on all countries to accelerate progress on MPOWER and ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against tobacco,” said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director of Health Promotion.

Bonn climate talks: Civil society, Indigenous Peoples’ groups urge reform ahead of COP30

Michael Simire
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Bonn climate talks: Civil society, Indigenous Peoples’ groups urge reform ahead of COP30

As climate negotiators gather in Bonn for the second and last week of talks leading up to COP30 in Brazil in November 2025, more than 200 civil society and Indigenous Peoples groups have put forward bold reform proposals to make the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) more effective at tackling the climate crisis.

Bonn Climate Change Conference
Deliberations at the Bonn Climate Change Conference 2022

After more than 30 years of climate negotiations, the UNFCCC process appears to have consistently fallen short of achieving climate justice. In these three decades, global greenhouse gas emissions have steadily increased, intensifying the climate crisis and inflicting growing devastation on people and the planet, particularly in the Global South.

The United Call for an Urgent Reform of the UN Climate Talks presented on Monday, June 23, 2025, centres around five pillars, including one that urges the 198 UNFCCC Parties “to embrace the possibility of majority-based decision-making to break deadlocks when attempts at securing consensus have failed.”

The United Call also urges an end to the “trade show” that COPs have become, including through the establishment of an accountability framework to address conflicts of interest and curbing the undue influence of fossil fuel and other polluting industry lobbyists on the climate talks. In addition, the reform proposals aim to ensure inclusivity, increase transparency and accountability, and uphold human rights in the context of the climate negotiations.

The five pillars of the United Call for an Urgent Reform of the UN Climate Talks are: 

  1. Restore Power and Equity
  2. End the Trade Show and Stop Corporate Capture
  3. Move Away from Accountability-Free Blackbox Negotiations
  4. Respect and Protect Human Rights
  5. Align and Strengthen International Climate Governance

United Call Endorsers

The set of proposals is endorsed by four major networks: Climate Action Network (CAN), the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice (DCJ), the Children and Youth Constituency (YOUNGO), the Women and Gender Constituency (WGC), and over 200 organisations, including the Centre for International Environmental Law, Corporate Accountability, Amnesty International, Oxfam, and Greenpeace.

Lien Vandamme, Senior Campaigner, Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), said: “For 30 years, the climate negotiations have systematically failed to deliver climate justice, undermined international law and allowed the fossil fuel industry to write the rules. The absence of agreed procedures for decision-making allows big polluting countries to hold the negotiations hostage. The lack of accountability gives a false sense of impunity. Yet, effective multilateralism is the only way out of the multiple global crises.

“This year is key, including with several international courts working on climate advisory opinions. The time is now for the UNFCCC to become the climate regime it should have been for the past decades: one centered around international obligation to prevent dangerous climate change and remedy related harm. All Parties must come together and radically choose fossil-free climate multilateralism rooted in justice.”

Camila Mikkie, Officer at social environmental programme at Conectas Direitos Humanos, said: “Brazil has placed itself at the centre of an important and necessary debate on reforming our climate regime at a pivotal moment of paradigm shift so that it can truly deliver on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and subsequent decisions, and ensuring justice for those most affected. The world now expects Brazil to lead the necessary changes.” 

Rachitaa Gupta, Global Coordinator, Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice (DCJ), said: “For 30 years, the UNFCCC has failed to catalyse meaningful climate action. Every single year. Inside the halls of the UNFCCC, it may seem as though it is just another year of business as usual, or as if there is no urgency. But outside these halls, this could not be further from the truth. At home, our communities are enduring incalculable loss and damage from the compounded impacts of the climate crisis.

“At home, emissions are reaching record highs year after year. At home, for many, the climate crisis is a fight for life and death. For the UNFCCC to become legitimate, it must fundamentally reimagine itself. It must reform. Anything short of this is continued complicity in the climate crisis.”

An Lambrechts, Biodiversity Politics Expert at Greenpeace International, said: “Thousands of people converge on climate COPs annually, hoping for decisions that will keep 1.5°C in sight, but that’s impossible if we don’t act to end nature destruction and fossil use at the same time. This means bridges with the CBD and other multilateral environmental agreements must be strengthened with urgency so that we can tackle the polycrisis the world is facing from all angles. This could then help ensure big polluters and nature destroyers who obstruct such decisions can be made to pay for the damage they’re inflicting instead of allowing them to block the changes we need.”

Foundation plants 500 trees in Ebonyi to tackle climate change

Michael Simire
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Foundation plants 500 trees in Ebonyi to tackle climate change

The Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation (NEW-F) has planted 500 tree seedlings to tackle climate change challenges in Ogada-Edda and Ohatekwe-Edda communities in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State in Nigeria.

Tree planting
Tree planting

Dr Kelechi Okezie, Executive Director of the foundation, who made the disclosure in an interview on Monday, June 23, 2025, in Abakaliki, said the tree planting exercise was part of the foundation’s “Strengthening Local Advocacy Against Climate Change” or SLACC programme aimed at promoting forest conservation and sustainable environmental practices in the state.

Okezie said the initiative mobilises community action against climate change while encouraging the protection of indigenous tree species and biodiversity.

“The communities donated land for the trees, showing their commitment to forest conservation. We urge them to nurture these trees for their economic, social, and environmental benefits,” he said.

The executive director, who decried the indiscriminate cutting down of trees in parts of the state, said that most trees had gone extinct.

He urged communities and governments at all levels to take concerted efforts against deforestation.

Okezie said that the UN in recognition of the importance of forestry in maintaining biodiversity had designated March 21 annually as International Day of Forests.

“This day is recognised annually to raise awareness about the importance of all types of forests and to promote their sustainable management, conservation and development.

“There should be a commitment to protecting the environment; a local tree called “akparata” in one of the communities has gone into extinction due to the activities of Chinese people who deceived the people in cutting and selling to them this hard wood.

“Today, the akparata tree is no longer seen in any part of the community and same is the fate of most other local trees in many of our forests,” he added.

Okezie also spoke on the 2025 World Environment Day, which is observed annually on June 6, and called for the protection of the environment.

He urged the people to shun activities likely to cause environmental abuse, degradation, and pollution.

By Douglas Okoro

Indigenous solutions said to be vital for Nigeria’s emission reduction goal 

Michael Simire
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Indigenous solutions said to be vital for Nigeria’s emission reduction goal 

Group Managing Director of Alfa Designs Nigeria Ltd. (ADNL), Mr. Fatai Quadri, says Nigeria possesses the inherent capacity to effectively manage fugitive emissions within its borders.

Mr. Fatai Quadri
Group Managing Director of Alfa Designs Nigeria Ltd. (ADNL), Mr. Fatai Quadri

He said this during the inauguration ceremony and media facility tour of the company in Lagos on Monday, June 23, 2025.

Quadri emphasised the critical need to cultivate local expertise and infrastructure to address the challenges posed by greenhouse gas (GHG) and fugitive emissions, particularly those escaping from industrial equipment and facilities.

Quadri said that fugitive emissions, which are often unintentional leaks of gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, represent a significant yet addressable environmental concern in Nigeria’s oil, gas, and industrial sectors.

He stressed that, with proper investment in technology, training, and regulation, Nigeria could become a leader in emission monitoring and mitigation across West Africa.

“There is no need to rely solely on foreign interventions.

“We have the technical talent and innovation potential to manage these emissions right here in Nigeria,” he said.

Highlighting the company’s role in advancing sustainable environmental practices, Quadri called for stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, and academia to develop a robust local capacity for fugitive emission detection and management.

He also urged policymakers to create enabling laws and incentives that support indigenous solutions.

“What we need now is commitment, both from government and industry players, to prioritise environmental integrity through locally driven solutions,” he added.

He said that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) guidelines on GHG emissions are aimed at reducing environmental and social impact, caused by the emissions of components of natural gas including methane and other compounds.

The expert explained that embracing cleaner technology would help to mitigate carbon output, especially carbon soot being emitted by a fuel engine, contributing majorly to environmental pollution and health hazards.

”As it is now, we are supposed to be winding down on all diesel-powered engines in the country, based on the GHG emissions statement.

”Nigerian government had already pledged that by 2030 we are going to cut down our methane emissions, stop flaring completely and also do away with carbon soot formation, a bye-product from diesel-fired engines.

”We have to do away with all these things because they normally absorb infrared radiation that comes from the outer space.

“Once they absorb it, they keep the earth warmer than what is anticipated and that’s the effect on the climate change,’’ he said.

Quadri explained that, in view of high cost of diesel and the abundance of an alternative energy (gas) in the country, there was need to be economically wise and encourage usage of CNG.

”However, staring us in our face is a solution of an alternative that all of us are supposed to come out and really agitate to see how this can be implemented as soon as possible to reduce impact, ” he said.

He added that, in the bid to promote cleaner and affordable energy in the country, the Alfa Designs Nigeria Ltd., a leading oil and gas company, would soon begin conversion of diesel-powered engines to CNG in the country.

He said that Nigeria signed on to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in Sept. 2016; and, consequently, began the implementation of several initiatives aimed at reducing emissions from all sectors of the economy.

“As part of Nigeria’s commitment on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement, in 2021, it committed to reducing GHG emissions by 47 per cent in 2030, conditional on international support.

The pledge followed the signing into law of the country’s first climate bill after the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021, having set an ambitious global net zero targets by 2060.

To achieve Nigeria’s emission reduction targets of the NDCs, the key abatement measures are: elimination of routine gas flaring (100 per cent gas flaring eliminated by 2030) and fugitive emissions/leakages control (60 per cent Methane Reduction by 2030).

These measures were established under the NUPRC operators’ guidelines on the actions and mechanisms for the management of fugitive methane/GHG emissions from the upstream oil and gas operations.

He said that the company had invested between $17 million to $18 million in infrastructures and equipment to enhance greenhouse gas emission control.

Ouardri said that the company had selected 13 Nigerians from six geopolitical zones to undergo a “train-the-trainers” course on greenhouse gas (GHG)/fugitive emission detection and quantification, using the EyeCGas 2.0 Optical Gas Imaging Camera.

Also, Mr Mubarak Abdul, Chief Operating Officer of ADNL, advised the Federal Government to actively encourage indigenous companies to enhance local capacity in environmental management.

Abdul urged both the government and oil and gas companies to engage the services of in-country companies like Alfa Designs Ltd. to address the nation’s emission challenges.

He also highlighted ADNL’s partnership with OPTGAL Optronics Manufacturer in Israel to detect and address gas leakages in facilities, noting their extensive work with major companies in Nigeria.

Accordinging to him, they icluding Chevron, NNPCL, ND Western, and Seplat.

Miss Louisa Kpohearor, one of the trainers, commended Alfa Designs training and certification programmes, which aim to further retrain more Nigerians.

She confirmed that they were now verified in Optical Gas Imaging and are capable of conducting investigations and surveys in any oil and gas facility.

Miss Oghobi Sandra, another OGI trainer, emphasised that the training provided by Alfa Designs clearly demonstrates their status as the only authorised and certified trainers for detecting gas leakages in facilities.

ADNL is an indigenous Engineering, Procurement, Installation, Commissioning & Asset Integrity Management (EPICA) Company, incorporated on July 20, 2006.

The company is dedicated to continuously identifying and exceeding client needs in technical expertise through total service delivery.

lt also focuses on clear communication, superior performance, talent, teamwork, professional integrity, and cost-effective solutions for its private, government, and energy engineering clients.

By Yunus Yusuf

Mayor of London appointed Special Envoy, Fossil Free Cities for Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative

Michael Simire
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0
Mayor of London appointed Special Envoy, Fossil Free Cities for Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative

As London Climate Action Week kicks off, Mayor of London and C40 Co-Chair, Sadiq Khan, has been appointed as the Special Envoy, Fossil Free Cities for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. The new role is aimed at accelerating the global transition away from fossil fuels and amplifying the voice of cities in the fight against the climate crisis.

Sadiq Khan
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan

Cities are on the frontlines of the climate emergency, and they are also where the most innovative solutions are being pioneered.

As Special Envoy, Mayor Khan will champion the role of cities and subnational governments in shaping global climate policies, ensuring they have a seat at the table in the urgent effort to phase out fossil fuels equitably, and finance a more just, sustainable future.

Over 135 cities and subnational governments, including London, California, and 17 national capitals, have already endorsed the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal.

Mayor of London and Co-Chair of C40 Cities, Sadiq Khan, said: “Cities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, but they are also where the solutions are being forged. As Special Envoy, I am committed to ensuring that cities and subnational governments are not just heard but actively involved in shaping the global response to this crisis. The Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative represents an important step toward a sustainable, healthier future for all.”

Mayor Khan’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment. Mayors have long been at the forefront of progressive change, holding the line on climate action amid global instability. At COP28, cities secured a seat at the table in UN climate negotiations for the first time in history, marking a significant shift in recognising the power of local leadership.  

Tzeporah Berman, Co-Chair and Founder of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: “Cities are the beating heart of climate action, and Mayor Khan’s leadership in London has set a gold standard for what is possible when bold, visionary leadership meets unwavering commitment. As Special Envoy, he will amplify the voice of cities on the global stage, ensuring the Fossil Fuel Treaty is not just a framework but a catalyst for transformative change that reflects the urgent needs and aspirations of local communities. This is more than a step—it’s a leap toward a more just, sustainable, and fossil-free future for all.”

Fossil fuels are seen as a direct threat to urban health, with cities bearing the brunt of air pollution. Forty-one percent of cities worldwide have air pollution levels seven times higher than the World Health Organisation’s recommendations, and 97% of cities in low- and middle-income countries face unsafe air quality. With three-quarters of global energy consumed in cities, a just transition away from fossil fuels is essential to safeguarding public health and well-being.

Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, welcomed the announcement: “Mayor Khan’s leadership in London has demonstrated that bold climate action is not only possible but transformative. His appointment as Special Envoy is a testament to the critical role cities must play in the global effort to phase out fossil fuels.

“At C40 Cities we have placed ending the use of fossil fuels at the very core of what we do, and we are proud to stand with Mayor Khan and the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative. Cities are the doers of climate action and now is our time to create a better, safer future for urban residents everywhere.”

London has emerged as a global model for urban sustainability. Initiatives like the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) have drastically reduced air pollution, putting the city on track to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. These policies have not only protected the environment but also improved public health, created green jobs, and built a more resilient city.

Mayor Khan has also led efforts to divest from fossil fuels, working with the London Pension Fund Authority (LPFA) to implement a climate change policy covering nearly £10 billion in assets. This includes no new active investments in fossil fuel companies and scaling up green investments. As co-chair of the C40 Cities network, Mayor Khan has helped expand fossil fuel divestment globally, sharing tools and knowledge to accelerate the transition.  

Equity is at the heart of the fossil fuel phase-out. Mayor Khan is committed to ensuring that the benefits of this transition – cleaner air, sustainable jobs, and resilient infrastructure – are shared by all, particularly vulnerable communities.  

As Special Envoy, Mayor Khan will advocate for the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative on the global stage, engaging with national, regional, and international forums to build momentum for this critical initiative.  

The Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative is now supported by 17 countries, actively participating in discussions on a global, binding mechanism to address fossil fuels.

They’re joined by over 130 cities and subnational governments, including the State of California, alongside a massive coalition: over 1 million citizens, nearly 4,000 civil society organisations, 3,000+ academics and scientists, hundreds of health professionals and institutions like the WHO, faith leaders including the World Council of Churches, 850+ elected officials, the European Parliament, 101 Nobel laureates, 25 banks, unions representing 35 million workers, businesses, youth advocates, and Indigenous peoples.

They are all coming together to demand a just, equitable and financed transition through the negotiation of a Fossil Fuel Treaty.

New data exposes private finance failure to meet energy transition needs

Michael Simire
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0
New data exposes private finance failure to meet energy transition needs

A report released on Monday, June 23, 2025, by Oil Change International and 17 other civil society organisations, including Climate Action Network International and 350.org, exposes the failure of the current approach to financing a transition away from fossil fuels, posing a grave threat to global efforts to combat the climate crisis.

Energy transition
Energy transition

The report, titled “Private Fantasies, Public Realities: Why private finance isn’t delivering an energy transition and the case for public sector leadership”, analyses a new decade-long dataset on blended finance, a key energy finance tool that rich countries and international institutions like the World Bank, International Energy Agency, and International Monetary Fund, promote. It finds that every public dollar of this concessional (subsidised) money is bringing in 4-7 times less private investment than anticipated.

These unrealistic assumptions about blended finance are a key driver behind massive shortfalls in energy transition finance in the Global South, said the CSOs, adding that Global North countries and China are getting the biggest share of just energy transition finance, with the remaining 69% of the world’s population receiving just 15% of finance in 2023–2024.

Meanwhile, the report shows that, in every region, even in the Global North and China, critical sectors like public transit, universal energy access, 100% renewable-ready electricity grids, and fair fossil fuel phase-out programmes are dangerously behind.

An analysis of the last 15 years of major international energy finance pledges and policies finds that the core problem is that governments are relying too heavily on weak financial incentives to attract private finance to green projects. Looking across some of the strongest examples of financing for a just energy transition, the report finds a much wider policy toolkit in use including regulating private banks, sector-wide subsidies, building community- and publicly owned projects directly, and setting fair policies for industry to follow.

But the report also warns that amidst the worst-ever global debt crisis and unfair financing rules, these options are out of reach for many of the most climate-vulnerable countries.

The report is being released right as Global South-led diplomatic pushes for fair climate finance and debt workout rules are coming to a fore in Bonn, Germany at the midyear climate negotiations and in Seville, Spain ahead of the once-in-a-decade United Nations Financing for Development conference (FfD4).

Bronwen Tucker, Global Public Finance lead at Oil Change International, said: “A just energy transition is dramatically more affordable than continued fossil fuel dependence. But unfortunately, affordable doesn’t mean ‘attractive to banks and hedge funds’. It is clear from the data that private investors are not fit to lead the way to the fossil free future we need, and that governments must step in.

“To start with, we need the rich countries who are most responsible for the crisis, and have an outsized say in global financial rules, to stop pushing dodgy models on the rest of the world and start taking accountability. That means paying up their fair share of public, grant-based climate finance and cancelling unfair debts so that every country can transition.”

Shereen Talaat, Director, MenaFem Movement for Economic, Ecological Justice and Development, said: “This report confirms what communities across the Global South have been saying for years: the private finance-first model is failing us. It doesn’t serve people, it serves profit. Women and marginalised communities carry the heaviest costs – through unpaid care work, lost livelihoods, and exposure to climate disasters – while rich governments continue to push failed models. A just transition must be public-led, rooted in care, and funded through grants, not debt. At FfD4 and beyond, we demand climate finance that repairs harm, not deepens inequality.”

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