The UK and Norway have launched a new Green Industrial Partnership aimed at turbocharging the North Sea’s role in the clean energy transition, even as recent industry setbacks raise questions about the pace and stability of Britain’s net zero ambitions.
Clean energy development in the North Sea
Signed in Oslo by UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Norwegian ministers Terje Aasland and Cecilie Myrseth, the agreement cements plans for joint investment and innovation in offshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and green infrastructure.
“Energy security means national security,” said Miliband. “This partnership is about building clean power we can rely on – backed by strong alliances, not fossil fuel volatility.”
Alongside technology and infrastructure collaboration, the partnership also aims to streamline cross-border CO₂ storage, protect offshore assets, and create supply chain and skills opportunities on both sides of the North Sea.
Analysts estimate that closer regional cooperation could generate up to 51,000 jobs and inject £36 billion into the UK economy, with the North Sea potentially supplying 120GW of offshore wind by 2030, which is enough to power 120 million homes.
Norwegian ministers highlighted the strategic value of deepening ties with Britain, which remains Norway’s second-largest trading partner. Companies like Equinor, Statkraft and Vårgrønn are already heavily involved in the UK’s renewables sector.
While the UK government pushes forward with green diplomacy abroad, its domestic clean energy rollout faces mounting pressure. The offshore wind sector has faced funding uncertainty, and policy instability, with the recent news of Ørsted halting Hornsea 4 wind farm plans.
Whether the new partnership can help overcome these headwinds and wider geopolitical uncertainty remains to be seen, but both governments are betting on the North Sea as a shared engine of green growth.
A transformational joint exploration led by OceanX and OceanQuest has officially concluded the “Around Africa Expedition”, a major ocean research and capacity-sharing mission advancing deep-sea research, oceanographic mapping, and scientific collaboration across Africa’s coastal waters.
Group photo of the Young Explorers and OceanX Crew on the OceanXplorer, off the Coast of Southern Africa
The expedition navigated critical marine regions, starting from Moroni (Comoros Archipelago) and navigating through the Mozambique Channel, the southern Madagascar Ridge (Walters Shoal), Agulhas Plateau (Africana Seamount), Cape Town (South Africa), the Benguela Current System in the southeastern Atlantic, Walvis Bay (Namibia), Mindelo and the Nola Seamounts in Cabo Verde, and ending in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands (Spain).
Conducted between January and April, the expedition delivered significant insights and new valuable data about Africa’s marine ecosystems, surveyed vast areas of previously unexplored seafloor, and strengthened Africa’s leadership in ocean science through international collaboration and capacity sharing.
Expedition Scope and Key Achievements
Researchers conducted extensive fieldwork including remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives, oceanographic sampling, biodiversity surveys, and high-resolution seafloor mapping, unlocking new insights into Africa’s marine ecosystems.
OceanXplorer, the expedition’s advanced research vessel, completed eight ROV dives, totalling 21 hours underwater, including the first-ever visual surveys of the deep flanks of Walters Shoal and a newly mapped seamount at the southern Madagascar Ridge, as well as the Nola seamounts off Cabo Verde. Submersibles Neptune and Nadir executed nine dives, collecting 41 biological and geological samples across 32 hours of deep-sea exploration.
In total, nearly 150,000km² of seafloor was mapped across regions including the Madagascar Ridge, Agulhas Plateau, and Cabo Verde’s Nola Seamounts, providing vital data for deep ocean science and discovery, marine spatial planning, and conservation opportunities.
“This is not just a scientific achievement, but a continental one,” says Vincent Pieribone, co-CEO and Chief Science Officer for OceanX. “The knowledge gained here belongs to Africa and will benefit research and scientific communities for generations to come.”
Key Findings During the ‘Around Africa Expedition’
Two segments of the expedition were dedicated to deep-sea missions, designed to advance the understanding of the biological, geological, and oceanographic processes shaping the seafloor and ecosystems of the Southwest Indian Ocean and the eastern Atlantic. By investigating remote seamounts, surveying deep habitats, and analysing ocean dynamics, the teams generated critical baseline data to support marine conservation, sustainable resource management, and adaptation to climate change impacts.
As African nations increasingly recognise the critical importance of healthy ocean ecosystems for economic development, environmental security, this research provides essential knowledge and tools to inform more sustainable marine governance across the continent.
Key outcomes included:
The high-resolution mapping of seamounts and the surrounding seafloor, vital for fisheries, biodiversity, and habitat protection
Detailed analysis of ocean currents to better understand regional climate patterns
Analysis of marine microbes and aerosols, which play key roles in ocean food chains, carbon storage, and climate regulation, contributing critical data to global ocean health research
“The opportunity to conduct deep-sea research alongside an international team, with African scientists leading key legs, was a turning point,” said Dr. Lara Atkinson, Marine Offshore Scientist at NRF-SAEON. “For many of us, it was the first time we had access to this level of deep-sea technology and interdisciplinary collaboration among so many nations.”
“Being part of this expedition felt like reclaiming our own narrative in ocean science,” said Dr. Yara Rodrigues, Executive Vogal at Instituto do Mar. “We weren’t just collecting data, we were shaping the future of marine knowledge in Africa, based on our needs, in our waters.”
Their involvement was part of a broader collaboration between OceanX, OceanQuest, and leading African institutions. These included the National Research Foundation – South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON), the University of Cape Town (UCT), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Instituto do Mar (IMar) in Cabo Verde, the Ocean Science Center Mindelo (OSCM), and the Universidade Técnica do Atlántico (UTA). This strengthened scientific partnerships and promoted data sharing across the continent.
“These collaborations are the future of ocean science in Africa,” said Pieribone. “We’ve seen what’s possible when scientists, governments, and regional institutions align behind a common purpose-advancing knowledge, access, and opportunity.”
Science Diplomacy and Regional Leadership
The expedition also marked a series of significant diplomatic milestones, with visits from South Africa’s Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Dion George and Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille, Cabo Verde’s Minister of the Sea Jorge Santos and the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, José Maria Neves. As Patron of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, President Neves reaffirmed Cabo Verde’s strong commitment and leadership in advancing ocean knowledge, marine conservation, and sustainable blue development.
“These high-level engagements,” says Martin Visbeck, Chief Executive Officer of OceanQuest, “underscored regional commitment to ocean science and sustainability, enhanced cooperation across the continent, and demonstrated both Africa and Cabo Verde’s growing leadership in addressing the most pressing challenges facing our oceans.”
The Federal Government has inaugurated the Steering Committee for the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project aimed to enhance national food security, water management, and climate resilience.
Dignitaries at the inauguration of the Steering Committee for the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project, in Abuja
The project, valued at $500 million and supported by the World Bank, aims to deliver large-scale multi-purpose infrastructure for irrigation and hydropower generation.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting in Abuja on Friday, May 9, 2025, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, who co-chairs the Steering Committee alongside the Minister of Power, said the initiative aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
According to the minister, the SPIN project builds on the success of the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project, which helped rehabilitate about 32,000 hectares of irrigation schemes and empowered Water Users Associations (WUAs) across the country.
“Nigeria is committed to improving its food, water, and energy security.
“Through this project, we are targeting 500,000 hectares of irrigated agriculture, 30 Gigawatts of sustainable energy, and strengthened resilience to floods, droughts, and climate change.
“The project consists of four key components: Institutional Strengthening, Irrigation Modernisation, Dam Safety and Operational Improvements, and Effective Project Management.
“It will be implemented under two models; Model 1, which focuses on federal government-managed schemes in collaboration with interested states, and Model 2, which supports state-owned irrigation schemes”.
According to him, out of the 34 states that expressed interest in participating in the project, 27 pledged to meet the readiness criteria, and 17 states have been confirmed as qualified.
He said these states satisfied three key requirements: enacting a WUA law at the state level, allocating budgetary provisions for WUA operations and maintenance, and establishing counterpart funding.
The minister commended the SPIN Interim Team for field assessments and preparing key documents, including the Project Appraisal, Implementation Manual, and 18-month work plan.
He noted that the steering committee, composed of Ministers from relevant sectors and Commissioners from participating states, would serve as the apex policy and decision-making body for the project.
Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, described the SPIN project as timely, noting that it would build on the achievements of the TRIMING initiative to further transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Kyari commended the World Bank for its continued support towards sustainable development across various sectors, but emphasised the need to place greater focus on measuring concrete outcomes.
“In every programme we implement, whether within our ministries or in partnership with international stakeholders, we must ask a fundamental question: What specific results will this project deliver?
“In the case of agricultural production, what measurable outcomes are we targeting? Clarity on such goals ensures that our efforts are meaningful and result-driven.
“While our rapidly growing population is often viewed as a burden, I see it as a powerful opportunity.
“With strategic planning and the right investments, this population can become a major force for innovation and economic growth. Let us not forget that Nigeria remains one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.”
The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable energy through hydropower, outlining it as key to achieving energy and food security.
Adelabu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mahmadu Mamman, said the initiative was a major step towards optimising the country’s water resources for long-term development.
He noted that the ministry of power, as a key implementing partner, was responsible for preparing project memos aimed at attracting private sector investment into hydropower development.
“This aligns with the broader national vision that sees energy not just as a commodity, but as the foundation for growth and progress,” he said.
The minister also underscored the role of hydropower in Nigeria’s energy transition, citing its technical advantages such as grid stability, efficiency, and its synergy with other renewable sources like solar and wind.
He urged members of the committee to remain committed to the project’s success, assuring them of the ministry’s readiness to address any challenges that may arise.
The World Bank Task Team Leader for the SPIN project, Mr. Chinedu Umoru, praised the federal government for its strong commitment to the project’s implementation.
He outlined the leadership shown by the government and its partner ministries as a clear sign of the dedication needed to drive the project to success.
“With this level of commitment, I am confident the federal government will achieve the objectives of the SPIN project,” he said.
Umoru noted that the project team is now fully launched and with sustained support from the ministries, the foundation for progress is in place.
He urged all stakeholders to match the government’s efforts with action to ensure nationwide impact on power and irrigation infrastructure.
The inaugural meeting fulfils a statutory requirement for activating the World Bank financing arrangement.
The SPIN project is expected to boost Nigeria’s irrigation capacity, ensure dam safety, and revitalise rural economies in line with the country’s long-term development goals.
The Federal Government and partners have been urged to take decisive action to protect and restore rangelands, safeguard pastoralist communities’ livelihoods, and enhance climate resilience in dryland regions.
Rangeland
The call was made in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the 5th International Conference on Drylands.
The conference, themed “Promoting Sustainability and Resilience of Rangelands: Present and Future Outlooks”, was organised by the Centre for Dryland Agriculture at Bayero University in Kano and took place from May 6 to 8, 2025.
The three-day conference brought together over 300 participants, including scientists, researchers, policymakers, development partners, and private sector representatives.
The participants urged governments to develop and implement comprehensive, participatory, and evidence-based legal frameworks prioritising sustainable rangeland management.
These frameworks should recognise, protect, and support traditional knowledge and practices of pastoralists, ensuring equitable access to land and natural resources.
Secure land tenure and fair resource governance are crucial for promoting peaceful coexistence and preventing land-use conflicts.
The conference recognised the critical role of women and youths from pastoralist communities in driving resilience and sustainability.
The conference also called for increased investment in capacity building, active participation in decision-making processes, and support for income-generating opportunities and sustainable resource development projects.
The conference emphasised the need to scale up public and private sector investments in climate change adaptation strategies, sustainable land management technologies, and diversified livelihood initiatives.
These investments should be complemented by demand-driven research and the promotion of innovations that integrate indigenous knowledge with modern scientific approaches.
The conference urged international development partners and organisations to align their resources with the conference outcomes and enhance regional and global cooperation, particularly on transboundary issues.
The participants also advocated deeper engagement with global initiatives such as the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) and the Africa Soil Initiative.
The conference concluded that the alarming degradation of rangelands, threats to pastoralist livelihoods, and fragility of dryland ecosystems demand urgent, collaborative, and sustained action.
The participants emphasised that achieving healthy rangelands was key to food security, ecological balance, and peaceful coexistence.
The conference brought together participants from 11 African countries, 13 Nigerian states, 17 academic institutions, and several international organisations.
It created a rich platform for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and regional collaboration.
Meeting the tripling renewable power capacity target agreed in the UAE Consensus requires urgent investment across the renewable energy landscape, encompassing renewable power capacity; energy efficiency and conservation; as well as grid and flexibility. This mammoth undertaking requires a cumulative investment of USD 31.5 trillion by the end of the decade.
COP28 officials applaud the adoption of “The UAE Consensus” in Dubai
Currently, investment in renewable energy remains disproportionately concentrated. Only 10% of global investments in 2023 reached developing economies where nearly half of the world’s population resides, excluding major markets like Brazil, China, and India. The lack of investment in emerging markets and developing economies is primarily due to higher real and perceived risks in these markets and economies, such as currency volatility, macroeconomic instability, and policies uncertainty.
To tip the scale and address the persistent gaps, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has been calling for stronger international cooperation to substantially increase the financial flows to the Global South. But reform must also be made in the way the international support is provided to these countries.
Recognising the limited public funds available in the developing world, governments and development partners should deploy these resources strategically, towards strengthening policy frameworks, enacting clear regulations, and providing risk-mitigation support, in order to build a pipeline of bankable, transition–oriented projects.
Clear, stable policies enable countries to create robust investment strategies, address potential risks, build investors’ confidence, and attract private capital. Integrated national energy planning strengthens investment environments by coordinating actions across sectors and stakeholders, aligning renewable energy with broader development goals, and signalling clear priorities that reduce uncertainty and enhance project predictability for investors. This, in turn, is key to unlocking investments for the energy transitions.
The Global Coalition for Energy Planning (GCEP) emerging from Brazil’s 2024 G20 presidency, aims to support this approach by providing platforms for knowledge sharing and investment decision-making. To be officially launched during the Energy Planning Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 2025, GCEP seeks to address the critical investment gap in the energy transition through improved energy planning.
Another crucial approach to mobilising private investment involves risk mitigation. Aside from strengthening policy frameworks and integrating them with energy transition investments, governments play a key role in in attracting private sector’s investments by reducing investment risks. Through blended finance structures, for example, the public sector can strategically provide small amounts of concessional public capital to mitigate certain risks that private sector capital cannot yet absorb, and to ensure low costs of capital.
In the context of pressing energy needs, international financial support from the Global North must look beyond bankability. As it is already established that public fund in the Global South is limited, international support must seek to mobilise impact–driven capital, particularly in the form of low-cost concessional loans and grants, that do not further add to countries’ debt burdens.
Lastly, at the project level, support must be given to project developers who struggle to secure investments. Finance providers have strict eligibility criteria that mostly favour well-developed large-scale projects with minimum risks, which often are not the case in many developing countries.
With project facilitation interventions such as those provided by the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing Platform (ETAF), project developers can get a thorough understanding of the requirements and eligibility criteria for available funding. Project facilitation can help de-risk the projects and enhance their bankability, thus making them attractive to financiers.
To speed up the world’s progress towards 11.2 terawatts of renewable power capacity aligned with the UAE Consensus’ goal, all of the above efforts must not be done in isolation. Robust and integrated policy frameworks to reduce uncertainties and boost investors’ confidence; strategic use of public financing with the support of international cooperation; and tailored support to project developers to enhance their bankability, are all needed at the same time and in synergy.
Through these combined efforts, the Global South can pick up the pace of its energy transition and gain the transition’s wide benefits along with the Global North.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, and the Director of Nutrition, Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, have made the 2025 TIME100 Health list.
Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare
This is contained in a statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Alaba Balogun, on Friday, May 9, 2025, in Abuja.
The TIME100 Health is a prestigious recognition of the 100 most influential individuals shaping the future of global health.
The list honours leaders, innovators, advocates, and change-makers whose work is transforming health systems, advancing medical science, and improving lives worldwide.
According to Balogun, the recognition of two Nigerians from the same institution underscores Nigeria’s rising influence in global health leadership.
“Pate’s selection acknowledges his decades-long commitment to health equity, system reform, and primary healthcare advancement.
“Under his leadership and aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is undergoing a historic transformation in its health sector focused on improved governance, better health outcomes, unlocking healthcare value chains, and bolstering health security.
“A cornerstone of this reform is the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, anchored by a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) that promotes strategic coordination among government institutions, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to ensure impactful and accountable investments.”
Under Pate’s leadership, he said, strategic priorities include: revitalising primary healthcare by strengthening frontline health facilities and expanding the community health workforce.
Others are scaling up maternal, newborn, and child health services to reduce preventable mortality.
He’s also being recognised for accelerating malaria elimination efforts, including the introduction of the malaria vaccine.
Promoting local production of health commodities and strengthening the health workforce for national resilience.
Bako-Aiyegbusi, it said, was honoured for her pioneering leadership in advancing national nutrition policy and driving systemic food and nutrition reforms.
“Her work has been instrumental in improving maternal and child nutrition outcomes and reducing malnutrition across vulnerable populations through multisectoral, evidence-based strategies.
“She has led several high-impact initiatives, including: the implementation of the National Nutrition Policy, targeting improved nutrition outcomes for all Nigerians
“The rollout of the Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) programme, providing pregnant women with 15 essential vitamins and minerals to combat anemia and support healthier pregnancies.”
Bako-Aiyegbusi is also being recognised for the expansion of large-scale food fortification programmes.
The publication also recognises her input in the advocacy for nutrition-sensitive, gender-responsive social protection policies to address the root causes of malnutrition.
The statement added that the full TIME100 Health list and accompanying tributes will appear in the May 26, issue of TIME, available on newsstands from May 16, and online at time.com/time100health.
This dual recognition not only honours the individual achievements of Pate and Bako-Aiyegbusi but also celebrates Nigeria’s bold strides in health reform, nutrition policy, and global leadership in advancing public health.
Every year, the world celebrates World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) to raise awareness about birds and the plight they face while migrating along routes known as flyways. Annually, millions of birds undertake the world’s longest and largest migrations, traveling thousands of kilometres, traversing continents in search of breeding, feeding and resting grounds. During migration, birds play key roles in the environment including controlling pests, pollinating the crops humans depend on for food, and providing economic benefits through bird watching.
Alex Ngari
This year’s WMBD theme “Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities” highlights the need for healthy coexistence between birds and humans, in the face of expanding urban developments, made worse by the changing climate. Birds are key indicators of environmental health, which makes them global barometers for assessing human impacts on ecosystems.
Rapid urbanisation, experienced in Africa and elsewhere poses a significant risk to birds and biodiversity. Many at times, these developments take place without careful consideration of the bird populations needs, thus damaging their habitats. Habitat disruption also creates opportunities for invasive alien species to thrive, consequently affecting ecosystems.
According to a 2024 study, urbanization has led to a decrease in the variety of birds species in addition to shrinking of their roles in the ecosystem. In contrast, rural or less developed areas support a wider diversity of bird species. Further, the study noted that urbanisation is driving out specialised species, despite the critical role played by these species in maintaining a healthy and balanced environment.
Considering this, there are a number of measures that can be taken in urban areas to ensure that migratory birds are protected. Critical sites like grasslands and wetlands which migratory birds depend on are under threat, thus developing green spaces by planting native trees and shrubs e.g. parks and creating urban wetlands can provide safes places for birds.
Collisions with glass buildings is another major cause of bird mortality, resulting in the deaths of millions of birds annually. Use of bird-friendly glass is critical in reducing bird mortalities. Bird friendly glass incorporates patterns or designs that help birds detect the glass as a barrier, thus minimizing collisions.
Migratory birds rely on natural light along their migration routes. Light pollution can interfere with the natural environment adversely impacting birds and other species. Many migratory birds, especially those travelling at night, fly over areas of intense urban development where they experience high levels of artificial light, which may impact migration timing and other seasonal behaviour. For instance, birds may misinterpret artificial light at night as a longer period of daylight and begin migration earlier than species not exposed to artificial light.
This migration mistiming means that the birds end up using up their energy reserves, putting them at risk of exhaustion, collision with buildings and other infrastructure and predation among others. This can be tackled through reducing light emission by dimming or turning off unnecessary lights, avoiding high-intensity lighting, or using light shielding among other measures.
Invasive species including cats, rats, and plants among others, pose significant threats to migratory birds through disrupting ecosystems, causing habitat loss and increasing predation and food competition. Rodents including rats and mice negatively impact seabird colonies including migratory species, preying on eggs. chicks and adults, ultimately leading to population declines or even local extinctions. Further, these invasive species compete with birds for food and nesting sites. Thus, it is vital to put in place effective programmes that minimise the effect of these species on migratory bird populations.
Integrating biodiversity conservation into urban planning, protecting green spaces, and promoting wildlife friendly policies is imperative for protection of ecosystems that sustain biodiversity and human life. As we mark World Migratory Bird Day, let us remember that building bird friendly cities and communities is a shared responsibility, and we all can make a difference.
Alex Ngari is Migratory Birds & Flyways Programme Manager for Africa, BirdLife International; Email: alex.ngari@birdlife.org
As part of ongoing efforts to promote mutually beneficial partnerships and foster healthy competition, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP) have pledged to deepen collaboration aimed at ensuring Nigeria’s energy security and advancing shared prosperity for Nigerians.
Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari receives the President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote during a visit by the latter to the NNPC Towers, on Thursday
This commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote, and his delegation to the Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, and members of the company’s Senior Management Team at the NNPC Towers, on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
During the visit, Dangote pledged to collaborate with the new NNPC Management to ensure energy security for Nigeria.
“There is no competition between us, we are not here to compete with NNPC Ltd. NNPC is part and parcel of our business, and we are also part of NNPC. This is an era of co-operation between the two organizations,” Dangote added.
While congratulating the GCEO and the Senior Management Team on their “well-deserved appointments,” Dangote acknowledged the enormity of the responsibility ahead, noting that the GCEO is shouldering a monumental task, which he expressed confidence that, with the capable hands at his disposal in NNPC, the task is surmountable.
In his remarks, the GCEO, Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, assured Dangote of a mutually beneficial partnership anchored on healthy competition and productive collaboration.
Ojulari highlighted the exceptional caliber of talent he met in NNPC Ltd., describing the workforce as a dedicated, highly skilled and hardworking professionals who are consistently keen on delivering value for Nigeria.
Expressing the company’s readiness to build a legacy of national prosperity through innovation and shared purpose, Ojulari said NNPC would sustain its collaboration with the Dangote Group especially where there is commercial advantage for Nigeria.
Both executives also committed to being the relationship managers for their respective organisations through sustained productive collaboration and healthy competition, thereby envisioning limitless opportunities for both organisations.
While human ingenuity has gifted us with the marvels of modern technology – from the swift wings of aeroplanes, the internet and how the seamless connectivity of smart devices have simplified our lives, these achievements often pale in comparison to the inherent wonders of the natural world. Consider, for instance, the remarkable phenomenon of migration, a feat where certain species undertakes journeys spanning thousands of kilometres, an innate response to evade periodic life-threatening environmental conditions.
Migratory birds
World Migratory Bird Day serves as a vital occasion to celebrate and champion these avian travellers, creatures that effortlessly bridge continents, unburdened by borders or bureaucratic visa hurdles. For example, the tiny willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), a mere 12-15 grams in adulthood, embarks on an astounding annual journey of up to 12,000 kilometers from its European breeding grounds to its wintering sites in sub-Saharan Africa.
Similarly, the majestic Osprey, a migratory bird of prey weighing up to 2.1kg, sees populations breeding across Europe undertake their own seasonal journeys to sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria.
This incredible ability to migrate, shared by numerous species, is not a learned behaviour, and decades of research have firmly established its genetic basis. Yet, our admiration for these species extends beyond their navigational skills.
As inhabitants of this planet, we often remain oblivious to the intricate workings of the ecosystems that sustain our very existence and livelihoods. Ironically, our advancements and activities are significantly altering the delicate balance of nature. While our perception of environmental health often hinges on the stability of weather patterns, our responses to ecological shifts tend to be reactive, evidence increasingly reveals that nature operates on a timescale often ahead of human comprehension and ability. Wildlife researchers have highlighted the fundamental dependence of our survival on the functional interactions within natural wildlife communities.
Migratory birds, in particular, provide a wealth of invaluable ecosystem services, ranging from seed dispersal and pest control to aesthetic and cultural enrichment. They play crucial roles in pollination and even serve as sensitive indicators of environmental changes. Ornithologists are diligently working to fully understand and quantify the economic and ecological value of these contributions. Tragically, these species and the vital services they provide face escalating threats in the face of changing weather patterns and environmental degradation.
The 2025 World Migratory Bird Day theme, “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities,” is a direct response to the observations gathered from continuous monitoring of these birds and their habitats worldwide. Ornithologists across the globe, including the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, conduct annual surveys, and urbanisation has emerged as a significant threat to the habitats that support these migratory species, contributing to their declines.
The relentless pursuit of real estate development is transforming our natural landscapes into concrete jungles, often devoid of the green spaces essential for these birds and the ecological functions they perform. The clearing of natural habitats to make way for high-rise buildings, artificial lighting, and associated urban infrastructure leads to the complete destruction of the ecosystems that migratory birds need to thrive.
However, the imperative of urbanization should not exclude the accommodation of nature. We readily observe the beneficial impact of a single tree within a compound – regulating immediate temperatures, providing refuge for insects and birds, and offering shade and food. The Hamad International Airport in Qatar offers a compelling example of innovative integration. In 2022, its expansion included a breathtaking 6,000 sq.m indoor tropical garden, a space that awes and soothes visitors while support ecological functionality.
While advocating for similar features within Nigeria’s international airports would be a welcome initiative, the broader aim of this article is to champion the incorporation of green spaces within our homes, expanding luxury and country estates, and industrial complexes.
We stand to gain immeasurably by intentionally incorporating structures that support the natural biological processes that enrich our lives, protect us against the impacts of climate change, provide crucial shade, and sustain the ecosystem that hosts resident and migratory birds. In fact, by cultivating bird-friendly environments, we might one day find ourselves hosting avian visitors from distant European lands right in our own backyards.
This concept of incorporating nature into our spaces is not foreign to us; a deeper look into our cultural heritage reveals the long-standing indigenous practice of setting aside dedicated areas for trees, shrubs, and fallow land, a wisdom we would do well to reactivate.
As we commemorate this World Migratory Bird Day in 2025, let us recognise our pivotal role as stewards of a sustainable environment. Just as we have achieved remarkable advancements in technology, we possess the same capacity for innovation and dedication in our pursuit of ecological sustainability in our modern spaces.
Happy World Migratory Bird Day!
By Dr. Stella Egbe, Senior Conservation Manager, Species Programmes, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF)
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has urged the Federal Government to leverage the nation’s tax system to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Renewable energy: Solar panels
Speaking at a workshop on “Fossil Fuel Transition Using the Instrumentality of Taxation” in Benin on Thursday, May 8, 2025, Comrade Auwal Musa, CISLAC’s Executive Director, warned that Nigeria risked missing its NetZero2050 target without bold fiscal reforms.
The workshop, supported by Tax Justice Network Africa and hosted in partnership with Connected Advocacy, brought together civil society leaders, climate advocates and some media representatives in Edo State.
Musa, popularly known as Rafsanjani, challenged government agencies to implement Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan with urgency and transparency.
“Are we moving swiftly enough to meet our climate goals? Are our policies and actions aligned with the global climate agenda,” he asked.
Musa asserted that Nigeria must phase out fossil fuel subsidies and use taxation to incentivise clean energy while protecting the livelihoods of those affected by the transition.
“Nigeria’s fossil fuel dependence has not only degraded the environment but deepened poverty in oil-producing communities.
“Tax justice is a powerful tool to correct this imbalance and create a greener economy,” he said.
Musa, queried the government on the status of the energy transition plan, the mechanisms for stakeholder engagement, and strategies for ensuring a just transition that protect workers and vulnerable communities.
“The energy transition must not repeat the mistakes of the past. Communities must be part of the conversation, and policies must be inclusive,” he said.
In his goodwill message, Mr. Israel Orekha, Executive Director, Connected Advocacy, said the workshop aimed to empower civil society to engage more effectively with government policy on climate and energy.
“Edo State, being oil-producing, stands at the heart of this national debate.
“We need to ensure our communities benefit from the shift to clean energy and not suffer because of it,” he said.
Orekha said Nigeria had a fantastic policy framework for combating climate change, but was poor in implementation.
He called for more awareness creation on climate change and its impact among the locals.
In his lecture, Mr. Chinedu Bassey, an expert in taxation, called for increased taxes on gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products to discourage fossil fuel consumption in the country.
He described taxation as a good mechanism for energy transition, while redirecting the funds towards clean energy initiatives.
He advocated taxes on inefficient energy-consuming appliances and technologies in Nigeria.
The discussion focused on how Nigeria can use progressive taxation to disincentivise fossil fuel exploration and redirect resources into clean energy investments.
The event concluded with a call for sustained advocacy and deeper collaboration between civil society, government, and the private sector to deliver a just and equitable energy future for Nigeria.
