The Korea Forest Service (KFS) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on Friday, January 23, 2026, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the implementation of the third phase of the Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (FERI).
Since its inception in 2014, FERI has underpinned national efforts in many parts of the world, supporting countries to develop and implement restoration projects, strengthening capacity, promoting South-South cooperation and mobilising knowledge and best practices.
Under the freshly signed MoU, the KFS is committing 700 million Korean Won yearly from 2026 to 2028 for the implementation of the Initiative, with a view to extend further financial support until 2030.
Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the implementation of the third phase of the Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (FERI)
“We at the Secretariat of the CBD are grateful to the Republic of Korea for demonstrating leadership and commitment to international cooperation at a time when they are sorely needed to address the environmental crises afflicting our planet,” said Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the CBD.
“The generous Korean support to this third phase of FERI will bring welcome impetus in the global race to halt and reverse biodiversity loss in the world’s forests and across connected ecosystems,” added Schomaker.
Kim In-ho, Minister of the KFS, said, “Thanks to the enduring partnership between the KFS and the Secretariat of the CBD under FERI, the Republic of Korea has been able to play a constructive role in advancing forest restoration globally.”
He added: “The KFS will remain committed to contributing to biodiversity conservation and a sustainable future.”
The third phase of FERI will contribute to accelerating the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), notably by underpinning the pursuit of forest-related commitments articulated in the National Biodiversity Strategies and Actions Plans (NBSAPs).
Under this new MoU, the Initiative will continue to foster the participation of a wide range of actors, including indigenous peoples and local communities, the custodians of a sizeable portion of the planet’s biodiversity. The range of planned activities includes developing capacity, mobilising resources, and promoting the exchange of knowledge and best practices.
In this way, FERI-supported activities will yield benefits across many of the targets of the KMGBF, including Target 2, pertaining to the restoration of 30 per cent of the world’s degraded ecosystems by 2030.
The Cross River State House of Assembly (CRHA) has intervened in the dispute between Ekuri forest community and timber company, Ezemac International (Nig.) Limited, following allegations of unsustainable and unauthorised logging activities in the community forest.
The Ekuri community had accused the company of operating in its forest without due process, including the absence of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and community consent, while allegedly deploying security agencies to intimidate residents.
In response, the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources convened a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, bringing together representatives of Ekuri community (Old and New), Ezemac International, the Forestry Commission and other relevant stakeholders.
Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State
Addressing the committee, community leader, Dr. Martins Egot, said the dispute highlights broader concerns around community forest governance and environmental protection.
He alleged that large-scale logging was ongoing in Ekuri forest without the required approvals, warning that intimidation and weak regulatory oversight undermine conservation efforts and community rights.
Several lawmakers expressed concern over the environmental implications of heavy logging activities. Egbe Egbe Abeng (Obubra II) criticised the alleged use of bulldozers in the forest and described the financial arrangement with the community as exploitative, while Linus Etim (Akamkpa II) stressed that host communities retain the right to protect their forests where agreements are breached or have expired.
Okon Owuna (Akamkpa I) disclosed that documents before the House indicated Ezemac was licensed to operate in government forest reserves, not community forests, warning that mechanised logging poses a serious threat to forest sustainability in Akamkpa axis.
Responding, Ezemac International, represented by its manager, Mr. Steven Asuwac, acknowledged a previous encroachment into Ekuri forest in 2023, for which compensation was paid.
He denied claims of destructive logging practices, insisting that chainsaws, not bulldozers, were used for timber extraction and that the company had engaged the community and employed local youths.
Chairman of the State Forestry Commission, Dr. George Oben-Etchi, confirmed that while Ezemac holds a valid permit to operate in government reserves, logging in community forests requires both regulatory approval and negotiations with host communities.
Ruling on the matter, Chairman of the House Committee, Bette Obi, faulted gaps in forest monitoring and revenue tracking, noting discrepancies between timber extracted and official forestry records.
He directed Ezemac to suspend all actions capable of escalating tension, withdraw security involvement, and engage the Ekuri community in line with environmental laws and due process.
The committee also asked the Ekuri community to submit a unified position, as the Assembly continues efforts to safeguard environmental sustainability, community rights and lawful investment in the state’s forest sector.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has provided further clarification for the ongoing licensing round, especially for bidders interested in the 50 oil and gas blocks on offer.
According to the Commission’s Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eysan, only applicants with strong technical and financial credentials will proceed to the critical stage of the bidding process.
Eyesan said this at the 2025 licensing round pre-bid webinar on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan, the Commission’s Chief Executive, NUPRC
She said, “The process follows five steps: registration and pre-qualification, data acquisition, technical bid submission, evaluation, and a commercial bid conference.
“Only candidates with strong technical and financial credentials, professionalism, and credible plans move forward. Winners are chosen through a transparent, merit-based procedure.”
The NUPRC boss noted that with the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, signature bonuses for the 2025 licensing round are now set within a value range that reduces entry barriers and places greater weight on what truly matters: technical capability, credible work programs, financial strength, and the ability to deliver production within the shortest possible time.
“This has been done to increase competitiveness and in response to capital mobility,” the CCE stated.
Eyesan described the licensing round as an open call for committed partners; those ready to invest capital, bring technical excellence, and accelerate Nigeria’s assets from license award to exploration, appraisal, and ultimately, full production.
The NUPRC boss restated the Commission’s commitment to a transparent licensing round, insisting that Nigeria is “ready to be the beautiful bride to capital and playroom for advanced technological deployment for hydrocarbon recovery.”
She added, “In this licensing round, 50 oil and gas blocks across Nigeria are available, allowing investors to access the country’s key basins and create long-term value.”
Eyesan further assured the public that the bid process will comply with the Petroleum Industry Act, promote the use of digital tools for smooth data access and remain open to public and institutional scrutiny through the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and other oversight agencies.
“Let me emphasise that the Nigeria 2025 Licensing Round is not merely a bidding exercise. It is a clear signal of a re-imagined upstream sector, anchored in the rule of law, driven by data, aligned with global investment realities, and focused on long-term value creation,” the NUPRC boss said.
During the webinar, subject matter experts from the NUPRC explained the guidelines, model contracts, bid parameters, and evaluation criteria in order to help investors navigate uncertainty and operate within a framework that is transparent, predictable, and deliberately designed to inspire confidence.
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has condemned what it described as the violent, unlawful, and reprehensible actions of the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Police Force against hundreds of peaceful victims of illegal demolitions, assault, and killings who gathered at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
In a statement issued after the incident, CAPPA said security operatives led by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, attacked hundreds of displaced residents who had gathered at the Assembly complex to express their grievances over the ongoing demolitions and forced evictions across waterfronts and low-income communities in the state.
Police confront Makoko demolition protesters
CAPPA demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto, a member of the #EndBadGovernance Movement in Lagos State, alongside other demonstrators arrested during the protest.
The organisation said Soweto, alongside several peaceful protesters including Comrade Jacob Akiri and Evangelist Isaac Doosuga, a septuagenarian from Makoko, were forcibly seized by police officers after the Commissioner of Police ordered the use of tear gas on the crowd.
CAPPA described the incident as a flagrant violation of constitutional rights and a continuation of what it called the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration’s pattern of repression, lawlessness, and cruelty against poor and displaced communities. It said the actions of the state authorities showed a shocking disregard for human dignity, the rule of law, and democratic norms.
This violent behaviour by the state, the organisation added, has reportedly led to the deaths of 12 persons in Makoko, including a five-day-old baby, as well as many others across demolished communities.
Speaking further on the events that unfolded at the State House of Assembly, CAPPA noted that the protest was entirely peaceful. It said that displaced residents, including elderly men and women whose homes and livelihoods had been destroyed, had marched for hours peacefully from Ikeja Under-Bridge to the State House of Assembly to formally present their grievances to lawmakers.
“Unfortunately, lawmakers who briefly came out to address the protesters, including Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, refused to allow the protesters access to the Assembly premises or the amphitheatre, a public civic space meant for citizen engagement. Exhausted protesters, including elderly persons, were denied seats and even the most basic courtesies,” the CAPPA statement noted
The organisation said that despite the refusal, the protesters remained calm and orderly, insisting only on their right to be heard while proceeding to sit on the grounds outside under the hot sun. It stated that the situation escalated only after security agents deployed tear gas and violent force without provocation.
CAPPA said police officers fired tear gas canisters directly at unarmed protesters, with lawmakers fully aware of the situation, triggering injuries and panic. It reported that a community member, Kafayat Muftaudeen, was struck on the leg by a tear gas canister and remains hospitalised, with surgery being considered.
It added that another victim, a journalist covering the protest, Oluwaferanmi Oladipupo of Daily Family, was severely affected by tear gas exposure and placed on oxygen, alongside other victims, including Jennifer Rita Obiora, a medical professional and member of the #EndBadGovernance Lagos State chapter, who was also brutalised and rushed to the hospital.
The organisation further said several protesters reported the forceful seizure and theft of personal belongings and work tools by police officers, describing the actions as unacceptable, criminal, and dangerous to press freedom and civic space.
Responding to claims by the Lagos State House of Assembly that unruly behaviour by Soweto allegedly escalated the situation, CAPPA dismissed the assertion as false and misleading. The organisation said Soweto repeatedly urged protesters to remain peaceful and encouraged them to sit calmly outside the Assembly complex after lawmakers refused them entry. It added that this account is clearly verifiable in all available video recordings of the incident.
CAPPA stated that the Commissioner of Police appeared to have taken personal offence at Soweto’s public criticism of the continued use of brute force by police officers against displaced communities, which the organisation said had resulted in deaths, including those of infants, during demolition exercises.
According to the organisation, the police action against Soweto was deliberate and targeted. It said the Commissioner of Police advised some protesters to move away and disassociate themselves from him at the Assembly ground, forcibly seized him, and deployed tear gas against the crowd, leaving several protesters disoriented.
The organisation also rejected claims that the Lagos State House of Assembly had earlier committed to intervening in the demolitions during a previous engagement with protesters on January 15. It said demolitions continued after that meeting and that affected residents were later informed by some other lawmakers, during a private meeting, that there was no possibility of definitive intervention because their entire land had been sold off. It added that the lawmakers advised community members to prepare for eventual eviction within five years.
CAPPA said the latest incident demonstrated what it described as the Lagos State Government’s insensitivity and the active role of the Commissioner of Police in aggravating the suffering of displaced residents. It said the conduct of the police leadership showed vindictiveness and a lack of restraint expected of public officeholders.
Quoting its Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, the organisation said the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful protest were guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and protected under international human rights law.
Oluwafemi was quoted as saying there was no legal, moral, or political justification for the use of tear gas or force against unarmed citizens and journalists exercising their rights. He added that the incident reflected a growing pattern of responding to civic dissent with repression rather than dialogue, particularly when protests exposed failures around demolitions and forced evictions carried out without adequate notice, compensation, or humane resettlement.
CAPPA demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all protesters detained during the protest.
The organisation also called on the Lagos State Government to immediately suspend the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, over what it described as his central role in destabilising a peaceful protest, ordering the use of force against unarmed citizens, and falsely claiming that no protester was injured.
CAPPA further demanded the immediate return of all personal belongings, work tools, and electronic devices allegedly seized or stolen from protesters and journalists by police officers during the crackdown, including a music van with speakers, as well as personal handbags and other property belonging to protesters.
In addition, the organisation called for the immediate suspension of all demolition and forced eviction operations across Lagos State and demanded independent investigations into reported killings in Makoko, Owode, Oworonshoki, and other affected communities, as well as the excessive use of force against protesters, with all those responsible held accountable.
CAPPA urged the Nigerian Police Force to end what it described as its routine use of violence against peaceful demonstrators, Lagosians, and journalists and called on the Speaker and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to engage affected communities in good faith rather than endorsing or enabling state violence.
The organisation warned that it would not hesitate to mobilise civil society, affected communities, and the wider public against what it described as escalating state injustice if its demands were not met.
For millions of Nigerian families, cooking remains one of the most expensive and dangerous daily activities – costing money, health, and forests.
At a recent industry gathering, BURN Manufacturing made a strong case that clean cooking is no longer just an environmental conversation, but a matter of economic survival, public health, and smart policy, powered by the government.
Addressing stakeholders at the event, Chidi Ohaji, Channel Sales Manager at BURN, explained how the company is linking household cooking habits to global climate finance – turning efficient cookstoves into tools for poverty reduction and climate action.
From L-R: Chijioke Odo, Deloitte; Etulan Ikpoki, BURN Country Manager; Engr. Benedict Souarede Preake, SON; and Victoria Onuoha, MAN Head of Green Manufacturing Agenda
“At the end of the day,” Ohaji said, “this is about helping families spend less, breathe better, and live longer, while protecting our forests.”
Ohaji added: “Across the world, about 2.4 billion people still cook with biomass, relying on firewood and charcoal. In Africa, nearly 80% of charcoal is produced unsustainably, accelerating deforestation and environmental degradation.
“For households, the impact is personal. Traditional stoves waste fuel, produce thick smoke, and expose women and children to serious respiratory illnesses. In some cases, indoor cooking with inefficient stoves has led to fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.
“We are paying for cooking twice,” Ohaji noted. “One with money, and again with our health.”
The Channel Sales Manager noted that BURN’s response is deceptively simple: use less fuel to cook the same food. Its improved cookstoves are designed to retain heat, reduce smoke, and cut fuel consumption dramatically.
With more than 6.3 million stoves sold globally, BURN estimates it has already saved 6.5 million tons of wood and helped households avoid $2.3 billion in energy expenses.
During its recent media roundtable, BURN revealed how some models of their stoves achieve up to 72% thermal efficiency, compared to traditional three-stone fire stoves that lose most of their heat to the air. That efficiency translates into faster cooking, cleaner kitchens, and real savings.
“If you were spending ₦10,000 on fuel,” Ohaji explained, “and now you will end up spending just ₦2,000, that’s ₦8,000 difference in life-changing costs in energy.”
Beyond households, BURN impact is being felt in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector. The company operates what is believed to be the world’s largest modern cookstove production network, producing over 250,000 units monthly and employing 3,500 people globally, half of them women.
The opening of BURN Nigerian manufacturing facility in November 2023 marked a turning point. The factory now supplies wood, charcoal, and LPG stoves across Nigeria and West Africa, employs around 700 workers, and has eliminated costly import delays.
“Local manufacturing changed everything,” said Etulan Ikpoki, Country Manager of BURN Manufacturing Nigeria. “We reduced costs, created jobs, and shortened our supply chain. What used to take 90 days now happens locally.”
One of the most striking points at the event was affordability. A high-quality cookstove that should cost around ₦58,000 is sold to low-income households for ₦15,000 or less – sometimes as low as ₦5,000.
By reducing the amount of wood and charcoal households burn, BURN prevents carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere. These avoided emissions are verified through usage tracking, household monitoring, and kitchen performance tests, then converted into carbon credits.
Investors purchase these credits, providing upfront funding that subsidises stove prices. Revenues are reinvested into research, expansion, and reaching more families.
“This only works if people actually use the stoves,” Ohaji stressed. “That’s why monitoring and long-term engagement matter.”
Independent research by the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago, covering 1,000 low-income households in Kenya, confirmed BURN’s claims: “$119 in annual household savings, $1,000 return to society over three years, 98% customer satisfaction and 3.5 tons of carbon saved per stove each year.”
Panelists agreed that Nigeria is well-positioned to scale clean cooking – but only if policy gaps are addressed.
Despite its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and its 2030 emission-reduction targets, clean cookstoves are not classified as essential household items, limiting VAT exemptions and import duty relief. Consumer financing options also remain limited.
Equally critical is the implementation of Nigeria’s carbon market framework. While recent policy activation has sent positive signals, investors need clarity around registries, revenue flows, and enforcement.
“There must be predictability,” Ikpoki said. “Investors won’t come unless they know the system works.”
Another concern raised was the flood of counterfeit stoves in Nigerian markets, which undermines safety standards and discourages legitimate manufacturers.
“Clean cooking is one of the few climate solutions Nigeria can scale quickly, credibly, and at household level. When local manufacturing, strong standards, and carbon finance work together, the results are immediate – lower emissions, healthier families, and real economic value. We welcome the government’s leadership in putting policy frameworks in place that support credible carbon markets and clean energy investment,” said Ikpoki.
“This has to stop at the ports,” Ikpoki warned, calling for closer collaboration between the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Customs, and market surveillance agencies.
The event closed with a panel discussion featuring Benedict Souarede Preake of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Mrs. Victoria Onuoha of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Chijoke Odoisan of Deloitte, Olamide Fagbuji from the Office of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other stakeholders.
Their message was unified: clean cooking is not a luxury – it is infrastructure.
With the right policies, carbon finance could turn everyday kitchens into engines of climate action, public health improvement, job creation, and foreign investment.
As Ohaji concluded, “When clean cooking is affordable, everyone wins – the family, the forest, and the future.”
Residents displaced by ongoing demolitions in communities in Lagos State on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly complex.
The protesting residents included those of Makoko, Oworonshoki, Otumara, and Baba Ijora.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Stop the demolitions”, “Stop punishing the poor,” and “Our lives also matter”.
Protesters at the Lagos State House of Assembley
Speaking on behalf of protesters, Mr. Zikora Ibeh, Assistant Executive Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), accused the state government of embarking on demolitions without resettlement plans.
Ibeh also accused the state government of extending demolitions far beyond initial safety agreements, displacing thousands and exacerbating a humanitarian crisis.
The activist accused the police of arresting scores of protesters, including a youth leader, Hassan Taiwo (Soweto).
Ibeh said the protest was to demand an immediate halt to all evictions.
He said: “We are also demanding compensation for affected families, and enforcement of the agreed 100-metre setback from high-tension power lines in Makoko and other communities,” he said.
Ibeh condemned the alleged detention of some protesters by the police and firing of canisters of teargas to disperse the others.
He also alleged that lawmakers watched as protesters were dragged on the ground and maltreated by policemen at the complex.
“Those detained were allegedly dragged into the Assembly complex as police fired multiple canisters of teargas at the largely unarmed crowd, including women, who had gathered to seek dialogue with lawmakers.
“Lawmakers watched as police unleashed teargas and live ammunition on unarmed protesters, including women, whose only crime was asking to speak to their representatives,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr. Stephen Ogundipe, said that at no point did the Lagos Assembly order the deployment of teargas, authorise arrests or direct any use of force against protesters.
Ogundipe, representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency-01, said lawmakers withdrew from the gate when the protesters arrived and that the decision to withdraw from the gate was taken on the advice of the Commissioner of Police to prevent physical confrontation and escalation.
He clarified that the claim that “lawmakers watched as police unleashed teargas and live ammunition” was false, sensational, and unsupported.
According to him, no lawmaker witnessed or sanctioned the use of live ammunition, and no credible evidence has been presented to substantiate the allegation.
The chairman accused the protesters of flatly rejecting dialogue at the gate, insisting on gaining access into the Assembly complex.
Ogundipe said the action of the protesters was in clear violation of established security protocols governing legislative premises.
Contrary to insinuations that lawmakers watched or ignored the situation, Ogundipe stated that the Lagos Assembly was officially on recess at the time of the incident.
“Notwithstanding this, upon receiving information about the gathering at the Assembly gate, I mobilised four other members who were present within the complex to engage the protesters in good faith,” he said.
Ogundipe said during the engagement, Hassan became openly confrontational and verbally abusive.
He alleged that he directed defamatory, and inflammatory language at lawmakers present and the Commissioner of Police, who was physically on ground solely to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
According to him, the activist went as far as publicly accusing the commissioner of murder and made allegations that are grave and reckless.
Ogundipe, however, said the Assembly remained committed to peaceful civic engagement, protection of democratic rights and orderly and respectful dialogue as the only sustainable path to conflict resolution.
The lawmaker said intimidation, verbal abuse, misinformation, and attempts to breach secured government facilities could not be justified under the guise of protest.
Transparent climate action and support is a cornerstone of climate cooperation. It equips countries with an evidence base to better identify needs and prioritise actions, track progress towards national climate plans (NDCs), and refine climate policies over time, preparing and implementing increasingly ambitious NDCs. By demonstrating progress in implementing the Paris Agreement, transparency builds mutual trust among Parties.
Transparency also offers donors and support providers greater clarity on where action and support are needed. Continued support remains essential for developing countries to engage effectively in the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).
Participants at the 13th ETF Group of Friends meeting. Photo credit: UN Climate Change
The timely submission of the first biennial transparency reports (BTRs) under the ETF – particularly by developing countries – has been made possible largely through sustained financial, technical and capacity-building assistance from the international community.
As developing countries continue to prepare their first and second BTRs, collaboration among supporting agencies has become increasingly critical to ensure that support is well-aligned, effective, and responsive to country-specific needs.
Joining forces for transparency
In recent years, coordination among international actors supporting transparency in developing countries has deepened significantly, resulting in more coherent approaches and delivery. This progress has been driven by the ETF Group of Friends – an informal network of around 35 organisations that serves as a central hub for communication, information-sharing, and joint activities.
“No single organisation can meet all transparency needs alone,” noted a UN Climate Change representative. By promoting inter-agency collaboration, the Group seeks to deliver support more coherently and achieve greater collective impact.
Coordination that delivers results
Since its establishment in 2016, the ETF Group of Friends has convened more than 45 coordination meetings at global, regional, and national levels – 24 of these were organised by UN Climate Change.
At the same time, regional and subgroup leads have become increasingly active. These include the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency-Global Support Programme (CBIT-GSP), the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute (GHGMI), the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), the Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement (PATPA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Over the past 18 months alone, these partners have hosted 21 regional coordination meetings.
Growing regional engagement has shifted coordination from simple information exchange towards concrete joint planning and in-country collaboration. Regular exchanges enable network members to map ongoing activities, identify synergies, and avoid duplication – helping to promote coherent and complementary support at the national level.
The network also contributed to six mandated ETF support and first BTR workshops in 2024 and 2025. These workshops brought together developing countries, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implementing agencies, and other partners to share experiences and discuss available support for preparing the first BTRs – an updated compilation of transparency support provides developing countries with an overview of assistance and guidance on how to access it.
Looking Ahead
Regional and subgroup leads are expanding engagement with regional and national actors to ensure meaningful follow-up after coordination calls, and to translate dialogue conclusions into tangible outcomes. Efforts are focused on identifying areas of overlap, promoting complementary initiatives, and strengthening collective impact at regional and country levels.
At the global level, UN Climate Change will continue to enable information-sharing, link regional outcomes with broader policy discussions, and promote coordinated planning.
By connecting support providers and responding to countries’ needs, the ETF Group of Friends promotes a coherent global approach to transparency support, strengthening collective efforts to track progress and implement the ETF under the Paris Agreement.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has assured prospective investors of a transparent, merit-based and competitive process for Nigeria’s 2025 Oil and Gas Licensing Round.
The commission said that only applicants with strong technical, financial credentials, professionalism and credible plans would proceed to the critical stage of the bidding process.
The commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, gave the assurance on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, while speaking at a Pre-Bid Webinar organised by the commission.
NUPRC, on Dec. 1, 2025, inaugurated Nigeria’s 2025 Licensing Bid Round, offering 50 oil and gas blocks across frontier, onshore, shallow water, and deepwater terrains for potential investors.
The basins included Niger Delta basin, with 35 blocks, Benin (Frontier) with three blocks, Anambra (Frontier), with four blocks, Benue (Frontier), with four blocks and Chad (Frontier) with four blocks on offer.
Eyesan explained that the licensing process would follow five stages: Registration and pre-qualification, data acquisition, technical bid submission, evaluation, and a commercial bid conference, with only bidders that meet strong technical and financial criteria progressing.
She said the 2025 Licensing Round represented a deliberate effort by Nigeria to reposition its upstream petroleum sector for long-term investment, transparency, and value creation, amid increasing global competition for capital.
Eyesan said that energy security and supply resilience had become key global economic and geopolitical priorities, while investment capital was increasingly selective and disciplined.
“Our national priority is clear: to attract capital, grow reserves, and improve production in a responsible and sustainable manner.
“A structured and transparent licensing round is essential to achieving these objectives.
“The NUPRC is legally mandated to conduct licensing rounds in a periodic, open, transparent, and fully competitive manner and the entire 2025 process will be governed strictly by published rules,” she said.
She disclosed that 50 oil and gas blocks across Nigeria’s major basins are on offer in the 2025 Licensing Round, providing investors with access to high-potential assets within a stable, rules-based regulatory framework.
Eyesan further revealed that, with the approval of President Bola Tinubu, signature bonuses for the 2025 round have been set within a range designed to lower entry barriers and prioritise technical capability, credible work programmes, financial strength, and speed to production.
The CCE emphasised that the bid process would fully comply with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and remain open to public and institutional scrutiny through the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and other oversight agencies.
She added that all licensing materials have been available on the Commission’s bid portal since Dec. 1, 2025, supported by dedicated help channels to assist applicants.
According to Eyesan, the 2025 Licensing Round is not merely a bidding exercise, but a signal of a re-imagined upstream sector anchored in the rule of law, driven by data, and aligned with global investment realities.
During the International Economic Forum Latin America and the Caribbean 2026, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) announced a new strategic partnership to accelerate urban climate finance and project delivery across Latin American cities.
The collaboration was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the presence of more than 30 local authorities from Latin American cities attending the Forum, including the mayors of Bogotá and Quito, and the deputy mayor of Fortaleza.
Sergio Díaz-Granados, executive president of CAF, during the inauguration of the Latin America and Caribbean International Economic Forum 2026
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation focused on helping cities prepare, finance and implement high-impact urban climate projects over the next five years, with support from CAF. The partnership prioritises climate adaptation; promotion of biodiversity, clean and sustainable urban mobility; sustainable urban planning; and water and sanitation systems, while strengthening cities’ access to climate finance connecting them to investment opportunities.
Federico Gutiérrez, Mayor of the city of Medellín, Colombia, and C40 Vice-Chair for Latin America, said: “Medellín has shown that cities can drive transformative change. As climate risks intensify, from extreme heat to mounting water challenges, partnerships like this are critical to strengthening urban resilience across Latin America and ensuring that climate action delivers real social and economic benefits for our citizens. Cities are already stepping up to confront the climate crisis and protect our communities, but unlocking greater access to climate finance is essential to turn ambition into action and deliver solutions that change people’s lives.”
As climate impacts intensify across the region, the partnership places a strong emphasis on climate adaptation through nature-based solutions and promotion of biodiversity, the initiative aims to support cities to address extreme climate risks, such as extreme heat, flooding, sea-level rise, droughts etc., by implementing projects that promotes urban greening, water-sensitive urban design that help cool and promote resilient cities while improving quality of life.
Julian Suárez Migliozzi, Manager of Sustainable Territorial Development, said: “This partnership with C40 Cities represents a concrete step in CAF’s commitment to become the bank of subnational governments and the green bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. Our cities are home to 80% of the region’s population and are on the frontlines of the climate crisis – they need financing solutions that match the urgency of this challenge.
“Through this collaboration, we will work side by side with mayors to transform climate action plans into bankable projects that attract investment and deliver tangible benefits: greener neighborhoods, cleaner air, water security, and sustainable mobility.”
The partnership will align with regional initiatives such as CAF’s BiodiverCities Network and the Adapting BiodiverCities (ABC) programme, to be implemented by CAF and the Adaptation Fund between 2026 and 2028, strengthening links between biodiversity, climate resilience and urban development.
Under the MoU, C40 Cities and CAF will collaborate on sustainable urban development, climate adaptation and climate finance, supporting cities at different stages of project preparation and connecting them to the C40 City Finance Programme and associated funding initiatives such as the C40 Cities Finance Facility (CFF) and the City Climate Finance Gap Fund.
Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, said: “Climate impacts are a daily reality for millions of people in Latin American cities, from extreme heat to floods and water stress. This partnership with CAF will scale up investment for real, on-the-ground action, supporting adaptation, resilience and low-carbon development where it matters most. We know what needs to be done; the challenge now is financing and delivering it at speed. By working with cities to turn plans into bankable projects, we can unlock the finance needed to protect communities and accelerate climate action at scale.”
Key areas of cooperation include:
Climate adaptation and resilience, including the integration of climate considerations into municipal budgeting and capital investment through climate budgeting approaches;
Clean and sustainable transport, including knowledge exchange and financing support for the electrification of public transport and other zero-emission mobility solutions;
Urban nature-based solutions, supporting the development and financing of green and blue infrastructure through initiatives such as the C40 Urban Nature Accelerator;
Water security and sanitation, strengthening resilience in the water, sanitation and solid waste sectors through programmes such as Water Safe Cities, with a focus on addressing risks from floods, heat, droughts and landslides;
Urban planning and circular economy approaches, supporting integrated, sustainable and inclusive urban development.
In a bid to bring the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) into full operation, the Federal Government has inaugurated an 11- member project delivery committee.
The Committee comprises three members from ALCON, two from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), two members from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and two members each from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Federal Ministry of Power.
In its terms of reference, the committee is expected to fast-track the connection of 132 kV transmission lines, ensure the completion of the Itu-Aba 132kV line, Itu-Calabar 132kV line, produce a status report and Single Line Diagram (SLD) of the 132k V Line, conduct joint commissioning of 132kV line, including funding requirements.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, inaugurating the ALSCON Committee in Abuja
In addition to the 132kV project, the committee is also saddled with the connection of 330kV transmission lines to ALSCON by coming up with the funding requirements to complete the project, produce status project report and SLD of the 330k V Line, and conduct a joint commissioning of the project.
Inaugurating the committee in his office, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, emphasised the importance of the project, which he said would contribute to the economic growth and development of the country. He said it was the desire of the Federal Government to see that ALSCON begins operation.
He charged all the agencies that are involved in revamping the company to work as a team “to ensure that it comes alive within a very short time”, while urging them to set up a practical working solution.
Adelabu said if ALSCON comes back, it would impact the economy of the country very positively.
“Power is a critical enabler for continuous operation in the plant and could lead to economic growth. It will increase local capacity and create jobs for our people. So, we need to accelerate its activities and avoid delays. We need a lot of collaboration and cooperation to achieve this desired result.”
The Minister recalled visiting the company in October last year, adding that ALSCON had reached out to the ministry on several occasions regarding the importance of reliable, stable, and uninterrupted power at the plant and the need for the plant to be connected to the national grid.
The representative of UC Rusal, the majority shareholder of ALSCON, Viacheslav Krylov, said the company was ready to work and collaborate with the Federal Government in addressing the challenges facing the power sector especially in the provision of electricity.
He revealed that ALSCON has an in built 540MW installed, gas-fired turbines for power generation, primarily for operations. He however added that the excesses would be transferred to the grid.
Krylov emphasised the importance of an alternative power supply for emergency basis in order to guarantee continuous operation in the plant when gas supply line is disrupted, thus the need for grid connection.
