International Climate Change Development Initiative Africa has officially launched its innovative Eco-Friendly Toilet at LEA Primary School, Aleyita Lugbe, Abuja – a project that showcases how community-driven innovation can transform lives and safeguard the environment.
The unique toilet facility, constructed using over 10,000 recycled PET bottles, demonstrates what is possible when creativity meets purpose. Designed to address the pressing challenge of open defecation, the initiative embodies ICCDI Africa’s mission to create practical, scalable climate solutions that uplift communities.
Beyond providing a safe and hygienic restroom for pupils, the structure also offers a powerful lesson in environmental stewardship by turning plastic waste into a life-changing resource.
The ICCDI Africa Eco-Friendly Toilet at LEA Primary School, Aleyita Lugbe, Abuja
During the commissioning ceremony, Mrs. Abosede Orimoloye, Deputy Director of Water Quality Control & Sanitation at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) zones across the country. She encouraged the school leadership and pupils to protect and maintain the facility so it can serve generations to come.
She further emphasised that access to safe sanitation is a fundamental human right, noting that every child deserves a healthy, clean, and dignified learning environment.
“At ICCDI Africa, our work has always centred on practical climate action – finding simple, innovative, and sustainable solutions to local challenges. By making use of recycled PET bottles and collaborating with key partners such as UNICEF, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, RUWASA, and NGYouthSDGs, we are addressing two critical issues simultaneously: plastic pollution and inadequate sanitation,” disclosed Olumide Idowu, Founder and Executive Director of ICCDI Africa.
He added: “This Eco-Friendly Toilet stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnership, innovation, and community engagement. Together, we are building a cleaner, greener, and healthier Nigeria – one community at a time.”
By Oloruntobi Adejare, Gender and Communication Leads, ICCDI Africa
President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote and his team, paid a courtesy call on Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia. The visit, said the group, underscores its continued commitment to supporting Zambia’s national development agenda.
Since its establishment in Zambia, the Dangote Group has demonstrated confidence in the host economy. Dangote Cement Zambia Limited (DCZL) represents the single largest investment in the country’s manufacturing sector, with an outlay exceeding $500 million. Commissioned in 2015, the 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) integrated cement plant in Ndola includes a 30 MW captive power plant and a fleet of over 400 trucks to ensure efficient nationwide distribution.
Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia (left), with Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group
The entry of Dangote Cement transformed Zambia from a net importer of cement into a leading exporter within the SADC region. Since commissioning, DCZL has sold more than 8 million tonnes of cement and remains the market leader for quality and reliability. In recognition of its excellence, Dangote Cement’s flagship product, Dangote 3X, was named Runner-up Product of the Year 2025 by the Zambian Association of Manufacturers (ZAM). The company has also been awarded Exporter of the Year by ZAM and the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) for three consecutive years (2021–2023), maintaining a runner-up position in 2024–2025.
Dangote Cement Zambia directly employs over 1,200 people, with an additional 5,000 benefiting indirectly through ancillary sectors such as logistics, engineering, and local supply chains. All raw materials are sourced locally, ensuring that value creation and economic benefits remain within Zambia.
As part of its sustainability strategy, Dangote Cement has made significant progress in reducing its carbon footprint by replacing over 30% of fossil fuels with alternative fuels such as used tyres, municipal waste, plastic, sawdust, and corn cobs. The company is certified by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) to safely dispose of hazardous waste and has received multiple Environmental and Sustainability Awards for its leadership in green manufacturing practices.
During the visit, President Hichilema commended the Dangote Group for its continued contribution to national development and urged the company to partner the government and the private sector in addressing Zambia’s ongoing energy challenges.
In response, Dangote reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to supporting government initiatives aimed at mitigating climate change and strengthening the energy and agriculture sectors. He emphasised Zambia’s vast potential for agricultural expansion through diversification into climate-smart and irrigation-based farming, aligning with the nation’s goals for economic resilience and food security.
Dangote also pledged to explore investments in solar and thermal energy generation, leveraging the Ndola facility to help address power deficits in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He also expressed interest in harnessing Zambia’s mineral resources, including coal, to develop sustainable power solutions for the region.
Dangote’s visionary investment in a 30 MW captive power plant has enabled self-sufficiency and allowed the company to feed 8 MW of power back into the national grid through the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC), contributing to Zambia’s energy resilience.
President Hichilema welcomed Dangote’s commitment, affirming that Zambia is ready to partner the Dangote Group to unlock new opportunities for industrial growth and regional cooperation. These initiatives are aligned with the Government’s 8th National Development Plan (2022–2026), particularly in the areas of manufacturing, energy, and agriculture.
Through sustained investment, innovation, and collaboration, the Dangote Group says it has continued to position itself as a trusted strategic partner in Zambia’s industrialisation and economic transformation journey.
As the world marks World Diabetes Day on Friday, November 14, 2025, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), a not-for-profit group, has backed the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) in urging the federal government to declare a national emergency on diabetes care and upwardly revise the sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) tax, amongst other life-saving healthy food policies.
In a statement on Friday, CAPPA described as “alarming” a recent disclosure by the association’s president that no fewer than an estimated 30,000 Nigerians die yearly from diabetes, while as many as 11.4 million others are currently living with the debilitating disease, according to a media report.
Sugar-sweetened beverages
It said this was even worse than the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimate, which reports a prevalence of roughly 3.0 per cent in Nigeria, with approximately 2.99 million adults living with diabetes.
The non-governmental organisation expressed dismay that the average monthly cost of diabetes management “now stands at between N100,000 and N120,000”, according to the media report. CAPPA said this had made proper management of the disease not only impossible for most patients but could spell a death sentence for many Nigerians impoverished by the poor economy.
“This is yet another troubling statistic on the state of Nigeria’s noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) burden, and the country’s public health system,” CAPPA stated. “It is no wonder that Nigeria’s life expectancy is the lowest globally, according to the latest United Nations’ (UN) global health report.”
The group said the alarming rise in diabetes cases, combined with the poor life expectancy, underscores the urgency for sweeping policy measures targeting unhealthy diets, particularly the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and other diabetes risk factors.
“In this context, we at CAPPA fully support the call by the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on diabetes care, and to significantly raise the sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) tax, with all proceeds channelled into strengthening the health sector,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director, CAPPA.
CAPPA’s support, he explained, is hinged on the facts that unhealthy diets and sugary drinks drive NCDs risk, while the aggressive marketing and wide availability of sugary drinks and highly processed foods are changing dietary environments across Nigeria.
He warned that, without decisive policy intervention, the country risks generations developing lifelong dependence on high-sugar drinks, leading to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and early mortality.
The statement argued that an effective SSB tax, sodium reduction targets, front-of-pack labelling (FOPL), restriction of ultra-processed foods marketing to kids, among other sound healthy-food policies, are proven tools to lower Nigeria’s NCDs burden. It added, however, that even the strongest prevention policies require a health system capable of supporting the millions already living with diabetes and other NCDs.
“This is why the Federal Government’s ongoing effort to channel revenues from taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and other harmful products into health financing is significant,” Oluwafemi said. “Dedicating these revenues to initiatives such as NCD prevention and management would provide the predictable funding Nigeria urgently needs, especially as the costs of treating diseases like diabetes continue to push families deeper into poverty.”
CAPPA noted that its ongoing campaigns for an SSB tax of at least N130 per litre and mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling align with international evidence. It emphasised that higher taxes reduce SSB consumption, encourage product reformulation, and generate revenue for health-sector investment, while front-of-pack labels empower consumers to make informed choices. Together, these measures shape healthier food environments and can shield Nigerians from the aggressive tactics of the big food industry.
This year’s World Health Organisation’s (WHO) World Diabetes Day is themed “Diabetes across life stages,” which highlights that diabetes can affect people at every moment of life, including during pregnancy.
A new analysis by Kick Big Polluters Out shows a record-breaking presence of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP30, a 12% increase from last year’s climate talks in Baku.
The news comes as a new rapid attribution study conducted by Imperial College confirms climate change, caused by fossil fuels, made deadly typhoons Fung-Wong and Kalmaegi that devastated the Philippines and Vietnam more likely and more severe, highlighting the human cost of political inaction on fossil fuels.
Anti-fossil fuel action at COP30
Norly Mercado, 350.org Asia Regional Director, said: “It’s no longer a coincidence that we’ve been battered by back-to-back typhoons right at the beginning of COP for two consecutive years now – it’s science. Typhoon Fung-Wong made landfall near my hometown, Isabela province. It was heartbreaking to see that just kilometers away, people are clinging onto their roofs for dear life or living in temporary shelters while floods wash away their homes. We have suffered incalculable losses due to greed and climate inaction.”
The 1,600 fossil fuel representatives at COP30 outnumber official delegates from the Philippines by nearly 50 to 1, and “fossil fuel lobbyists have received two thirds more passes to COP30 than all the delegates from the 10 mostclimate vulnerable nations combined”. The Philippines contributes less than 0.4% of global emissions yet faces some of the world’s most destructive climate impacts.
“We demand nothing less than an ambitious COP30 outcome that will ensure big polluters pay their climate debt –not just so we can rebuild our lives, but so we can build resilience and protect future generations from harm. We are outraged that the same climate wreckers and denialists who have profited from our misery have been invited to the negotiating table while we continue to wait for crumbs.” said Norly Mercado.
Typhoon Fung-Wong, known for its exceptional size, displaced over one million people and has so far recorded 27 deaths in the Philippines, with rescue operations still ongoing as floodwaters have yet to recede. Its impact continues to be felt in Taiwan, with thousands evacuated. The new study shows climate change increased Fung Wong’s maximum wind speed by 5%, eyewall rain by 10.5% and economic damage in the Philippines by 42%.
A week prior, Typhoon Kalmaegi killed more than 200 people in the Philippines while displacing thousands in Vietnam. Analysis of Typhoon Kalmaegi, the most powerful typhoon to make landfall in Vietnam in 2025, shows climate change increased its likelihood by 33%, increased maximum wind speed by 3%, eyewall rain by 8.6% and economic damage in Vietnam by 9%.
Civil society led by Indigenous leaders is uniting at COP30 to demand an end to climate-wrecking fossil fuels and a commitment to a just transition including finance and loss and damage. In July, the International Court of Justice ruled continued fossil fuel expansion and consumption could leave governments liable for reparations to citizens.
Amid the troubling news of the fossil fuel industry’s presence at COP30, we must continue demanding a clear roadmap for the rapid and equitable phase out of oil, gas and coal and climate finance in the form of grants so countries facing the worst climate impacts can rebuild from the devastating impacts they haven’t caused.
Despite the presence of climate wreckers whose interests include making profits for the wealthy minority while wreaking havoc on our planet, it is essential to safeguard the integrity and legitimacy of these negotiations in the name of the global majority.
A wildlife trafficker illegally selling pangolin scales in Nigeria was on November 7, 2025, convicted, the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) has disclosed.
The conviction, disclosed the WJC, marks another significant outcome of its partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to combat wildlife trafficking.
The Federal High Court in Lagos convicted Steven Chinonso (also known as Chukwunonso Stephen Obunadike), and who was operating out of Jakande Market, on three charges – conspiracy, unlawful possession, and illegal sale of pangolin scales – following a series of joint operations that disrupted a key supplier in Nigeria’s illegal wildlife trade.
Olivia Swaak-Goldman, Executive Director of the Wildlife Justice Commission
The conviction stemmed from intelligence gathered by Wildlife Justice and shared with NCS. Acting on this intelligence, NCS officers seized 1,003.9 kilograms of pangolin scales during two controlled operations in March 2025 and arrested Chinonso on April 2, 2025. He was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently.
“The Wildlife Justice Commission commends the Nigeria Customs Service for its decisive leadership and ongoing commitment to tackling transnational wildlife trafficking networks, setting a benchmark for effective enforcement in the region. The enforcement landscape in Nigeria has changed. Traffickers who once operated with impunity are now facing real consequences. This conviction sends a clear message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for wildlife crime,” said Olivia Swaak-Goldman, Executive Director of the Wildlife Justice Commission.
“Importantly, Nigeria’s newly passed Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill will soon allow for stronger penalties – up to 10 years in prison and fines of N12 million (approximately $8,300) – thus strengthening the fight against trafficking,” Swaak-Goldman added.
A model of intelligence-led enforcement
Since the Wildlife Justice–NCS partnership began in July 2021, it has become a model for effective, intelligence-led enforcement, it was gathered. Together, Wildlife justice and NCS have:
Conducted 18 successful operations;
Arrested 42 wildlife traffickers;
Seized over 25 tonnes of pangolin scales and 1 tonne of ivory; and
Secured 13 convictions – including the first convictions of Vietnamese nationals in Nigeria on wildlife crime charges.
The Steven Chinonso conviction marks the 13th conviction achieved under this partnership – and the 11th globally for Wildlife Justice-supported investigations in 2025, following the conviction of 10 traffickers in Madagascar earlier this year.
Stakeholders have called for accelerated policies, investments, and innovations to build climate-smart, energy-resilient, and sustainably financed health systems in Nigeria, anchored on legislative accountability and strengthened institutional partnerships.
Dr Pavel Ursu, World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative to Nigeria, made the call on Monday, November 10, 2025, in Abuja during the Pre-Summit Legislative Roundtable on Climate, Environment, and Sustainable Health.
Represented by the Deputy Country Representative, Dr Alexander Chimbaru, Ursu emphasised the urgent need to strengthen Nigeria’s health system against growing climate threats that increasingly disrupted environmental balance and population well-being.
Dignitaries at the Pre-Summit Legislative Roundtable on Climate, Environment, and Sustainable Health, in Abuja
Ursu highlighted Nigeria’s vulnerability to climate change, noting that its impacts exacerbated existing health challenges, strain infrastructure, and increased the burden of diseases in rural and urban communities alike.
“Nigeria faces severe health, social, and economic consequences from climate change, including more frequent climate-related disasters and worsening health inequalities affecting already marginalised and vulnerable groups,” he said.
He added that investing in climate-resilient healthcare was both a moral and economic imperative, as the effects of climate change were disproportionately borne by those with limited access to resources.
Ursu stressed the need for sustainable financing mechanisms to support climate-smart health systems, calling for domestic resource mobilisation, global cooperation, and innovative solutions to bridge Nigeria’s healthcare funding gaps.
He further underscored the vital role of legislation in promoting sustainable health financing and ensuring accountability frameworks that strengthened climate resilience within Nigeria’s evolving health policy landscape.
The WHO Representative commended Nigeria’s commitment to addressing health and climate challenges through initiatives such as the National Health Act and the National Climate Change Policy.
He urged policymakers to prioritise climate-health resilience in development plans and budgets, ensuring that healthcare facilities were adequately equipped to protect citizens from climate-induced health risks.
Ursu reaffirmed WHO’s continued support for Nigeria through technical assistance, capacity building, and advocacy for sustainable health financing and equitable access to essential health services nationwide.
He reiterated the organisation’s commitment to collaborate with government and development partners to fast-track progress toward universal health coverage and climate-resilient health systems.
According to him, the roundtable provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss policy priorities, share innovations, and forge partnerships to address pressing climate, environmental, and sustainable health issues.
He called for urgent, collective action to protect the health and well-being of Nigerians while promoting environmental stewardship and sustainable national development.
In her welcome address, Ms. Rita Michael-Ojo, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Environmental Summit Group (NESUG), said addressing those challenges required courage, clarity, and unified national commitment.
Michael-Ojo noted that the roundtable was co-convened by the WHO, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and NESUG to foster dialogue on environmental sustainability and energy resilience.
“Nigeria is at a crossroads, and its future depends on how effectively it responds to these interconnected challenges of energy insecurity, environmental degradation, and public health,” she said.
She warned that without clean energy, hospitals could not function effectively, and without a sustainable environment, economic growth and human development would remain critically undermined.
Michael-Ojo emphasised that accountable governance was vital to ensuring Nigeria’s policies endured, evolved, and translated into tangible benefits for citizens across every region of the country.
She revealed that Nigeria loosed more than100 billion dollars annually to the impacts of climate change, including flooding, deforestation, desertification, and air pollution.
According to her, more than 150 million Nigerians live below the poverty line, enduring energy insecurity, unsafe water, and widespread environmental decline that hinder national progress.
She added that those challenges also created opportunities for Nigeria to reimagine its sustainability approach and harnessed green innovation for inclusive economic transformation.
Michael-Ojo envisioned a Nigeria where every primary healthcare centre ran on renewable energy, communities thrive under green infrastructure, and youth become innovators driving environmental sustainability.
She said the vision guided the roundtable, which united legislators, policymakers, development partners, and innovators to align investment and legal frameworks for sustainable health systems.
Michael-Ojo announced that the Nigeria Environmental Summit (NESt 2026) would be held from March 25 to 26, 2026, bringing together global stakeholders to advance Nigeria’s green agenda.
She said the summit aimed to unlock Nigeria’s 20 billion euro green economy potential, positioning the country as a leader in Africa’s sustainable energy and environmental transition efforts.
She added that NESUG remained committed to strengthening environmental governance, institutionalising sustainability culture, and building a secure, energy-efficient, and health-resilient Nigeria for future generations.
Thousands of mayors and regional leaders from across the globe have issued a united call for national governments to strengthen partnerships with cities and regions to close the gap on global climate goals. The appeal came as a delegation of local representatives presented the joint outcome statement of the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, convened by Bloomberg Philanthropies in Rio de Janeiro, to UN Secretary-General António Guterres during COP30 World Leaders Summit in Belém.
Representing thousands of mayors and regional leaders worldwide, Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, C40 Cities’ Vice Chair and Global Ambassador for the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM); Katrin Jammeh, Mayor of Malmö and ICLEI’s president; and both Igor Normando, Mayor of Belém, and Helder Barbalho, Governor of Pará, host city and state of COP30, led the handover, symbolising the unity and determination of local governments in advancing global climate action.
Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris
UN-Habitat’s Executive Director, Anacláudia Rossbach, and the President of the Regional Council of Nouakchott, Mauritania, Fatimatou Abdel Malick, also attended the meeting, reinforcing the shared commitment to empowering cities and regions as key actors in achieving global climate goals.
The delegation also presented the statement to Dan Ioschpe, COP30 High-Level Champion, in recognition of his crucial role in connecting national and local leadership at COP30. Also present at both meetings were Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, and Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director of GCoM, underscoring the strong support for cities and regions on the road to Belém and beyond.
Endorsed by more than 14,000 cities, towns, and regions, the document outlines a shared message from local leaders: achieving the Paris Agreement goals will only be possible through robust multi-level collaboration and improved access to finance for local climate action.
Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, said: “Cities, states, and regions are proving that the steps we take to build a safer future also improve people’s lives today, in so many measurable ways. With this declaration, local leaders are sending a clear message to the heads of state gathering in Belem: Treat us as full partners in the fight against climate change, and we’ll help accelerate the progress needed to win it. The more nations heed that message, the faster the world can move in reducing emissions, building resiliency, and strengthening economies.”
Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, GCoM’s Global Ambassador and C40 Cities’ Vice Chair, said: “This moment is a turning point for our planet and our people. From Rio to Belém, local leaders are showing that hope is not a promise: it’s a plan. In every city, we are proving that climate action begins where people live, work, and dream. I want to thank Secretary-General António Guterres for his unwavering support for multilevel cooperation and for recognising the essential role of cities in this global effort. As we move toward COP30 and beyond, we must all work together – local, national, and international partners toward one shared goal: a just, resilient, and sustainable future for all.”
Local and regional authorities pledged to make life “more affordable and more resilient” by expanding renewable energy, accelerating energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and protecting ecosystems and water systems. They highlighted that local climate action already improves lives – from cleaner air and safer streets to greener, more inclusive jobs.
In their message to national governments, local leaders outlined strategic commitments designed to accelerate global progress during what they call “the decisive decade” for climate action.
1. Partnering to deliver national climate goals
Cities and regions committed to supporting countries in implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). The statement cites analysis suggesting that collaboration with subnational governments could significantly reduce the global emissions gap needed to achieve the Paris Agreement goals.
2. Mobilising climate finance for local projects
The Local Leaders Forum spotlighted the urgent need to unlock climate finance at the local level, citing a pipeline of over 2,500 bankable projects ready for investment in mitigation and adaptation. Local leaders face barriers accessing capital, and urged that part of the $1.3 trillion per year envisioned in the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap be directed to local governments – particularly in the Global South – to ensure a just, inclusive, and equitable transition.
3. Making COP a process of implementation and accountability
Finally, the statement calls for a more action-oriented COP process grounded in transparency, measurable outcomes, and shared responsibility. Local governments want future COPs to prioritise multi-level collaboration and integrate subnational achievements into the UN climate architecture. They also propose creating incentives for countries to exchange knowledge and best practices with cities and regions – turning pledges into sustained progress.
Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, said: “As COP30 begins here in Belém, the handover of this statement to the UN Secretary-General sends a powerful message that cities are ready to act. The momentum that started in Rio shows that mayors and governors are already delivering the just, inclusive transition the world needs and are committing to taking action every year. But they cannot do it alone. If we truly want to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, global leaders must now match local ambition with global investment, especially for cities in the Global South, where solutions are ready to scale.”
Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), said: “This handover marks a defining moment as COP30 opens in Belém. From Rio to this global stage, local leaders have come together to show what unity, determination, and practical action look like. The Global Covenant of Mayors is proud to stand alongside them – amplifying their progress, connecting them with partners, and turning their commitments into implementation. A global call to accelerate multilevel climate action, together.”
Addressing world leaders ahead of COP30, the statement concludes with a bold commitment: “To the world leaders gathering in Belém: you can count on us. Local leaders are ready to join you in a true global mutirão – working side by side to turn ambition into action and promises into progress.”
The Federal Government says it is collaborating with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on waste management reforms in Nigeria.
Prof. Innocent Barikor, the Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), stated this at a workshop on waste management reforms in Nigeria on Thursday, November 13, 2025, in Abuja.
Barikor said the event aimed to improve waste management and protect informal waste workers’ health and rights in Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, and Sierra Leone.
Participants at the NESREA-UNEP workshop on waste management reforms, in Abuja
“This pilot project is coming at a time when Nigeria is yearning to adopt the principles of circular economy and resource efficiency that can create a win-win scenario where environmental protection goes hand in hand with economic prosperity and improved social well-being.
“The waste management sector plays a vital role in safeguarding public health, ensuring environmental sustainability, and enhancing the quality of life in our communities.
“It has over the years remained one of the key environmental and developmental challenges in Nigeria,” he said.
Barikor said that, in spite of efforts to develop policies and plans, Nigeria continued to face significant challenges in managing waste, including inadequate infrastructure, insufficient funding, and lack of public awareness.
“Thus, effective waste management is crucial for protecting public health, preserving the environment, and promoting socio-economic development,” he said.
He said to address this, NESREA, in collaboration with UNEP under the Montevideo Programme V for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law, is implementing the pilot project in Abuja.
Barikor said the objective of the project was to strengthen the waste management framework with the aim of promoting environmentally sound and safe management of waste in Nigeria, while ensuring better inclusion and protection of informal workers and structures.
He said that the project would also generate recommendations for necessary legislative and institutional reforms within the waste management sector.
Barikor said the task before stakeholders was to review the current state of waste management in the FCT, identify areas requiring legislative and institutional improvement, and explore best practices and innovative approaches among others.
“Our collective inputs as stakeholders will at the long run achieve sustainable waste management practices in Nigeria.
“Together, we will seek to improve waste management practices within the FCT and beyond,” he said.
In a Goodwill message, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, the Minister of Youth Development, who commended the initiative, said it is pertinent to safeguard Nigeria’s environment and the future.
The minister pledged the ministry’s full commitment to the project, saying it would create jobs for the youths in the country.
Olawande, who was represented by Leah Akintiresoye, his Senior Special Assistant for Youth Development, reiterated the ministry’s commitment to protecting the Nigerian youth.
Ms. Aphrodite Smagadi of UNEP commended NESREA for the partnership, saying that the project is a collective responsibility for all.
“This is a collective responsibility for all, each voice matters as well as perspectives,” she said.
She urged all stakeholders to ensure that the proposed framework reflected the realities on ground and shaped the waste management project.
In the places most affected by climate change, peace is not a luxury: it’s a prerequisite for survival.
This November, the world’s attention turns to Belém, Brazil, where COP30, the annual UN climate summit, convenes amid rising temperatures, widening inequalities, geopolitical tensions and growing calls for justice. Yet one issue risks being sidelined again: climate-related peace and security.
For millions across Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific, climate change is not just about rising seas or melting glaciers. It is about survival. It is about whether families can stay on their land or are forced to flee. It is about whether scarce water sparks cooperation or conflict. And it is about whether fragile states, already burdened by poverty and instability, can withstand shocks they did little to cause.
Campaigners at COP30
Nigeria shows this reality vividly: food insecurity, migration, and farmer-herder clashes are increasingly shaped by climate pressures and exploited by armed groups. These are not distant warnings. They are unfolding now. And yet, despite this urgency, climate security remains absent from formal COP negotiations.
Why the silence?
At COP29, references to conflict and fragile states’ specific vulnerabilities were quietly removed from finance discussions. This was no accident. They reflect a persistent reluctance to acknowledge the deep links between climate and conflict, and to act on them, as peace and security is said to be outside COP’s mandate and agenda while others say peace and security is too politically sensitive, risking derailing negotiations.
Many negotiators, especially from countries that do not face climate-related insecurity directly see climate security as abstract, distant, therefore far from being their priority. Even within the Global South, some governments from conflict-free countries fear that linking climate and conflict could redefine vulnerability and shift scarce climate finance away from them. The competition for narrative and finance between conflict-affected and conflict-free is today a great source of tension, especially at a time when global assistance is shrinking.
Brazil’s role as COP30 host adds another layer of complexity. Historically, Brazil has resisted linking climate change to peace and security, viewing such efforts as Western-driven and sovereignty-threatening.
The signs of regression from the Presidency are troubling at COP30. Brazil has not continued the Peace Days that helped institutionalise climate-security discussions at previous COPs. It has expressed opposition to adding new agenda items that could complicate negotiations, a description that could embed peace and security. Despite one high-level climate security event potentially planned, Brazil’s engagement remains inadequate. Expensive costs and visa delays further weaken local communities’ representative participation in COP30. These developments risk turning COP30 into a summit that excludes the very people it should protect.
Africa’s leadership, ignored
Yet climate security is not a niche concern, it is central to global stability. If left unaddressed, climate-driven fragility will continue to destabilise entire regions and derail development efforts. The stakes are too high for inaction and African decision-makers know as they are at the forefront of climate-security advocacy.
From national climate security in the Central Sahel to the elaboration of the soon-to-be released African Union’s Common African Position on Climate, Peace and Security, African initiatives show how climate action and peacebuilding can reinforce each other. These efforts emphasise how African states are not just vulnerable but are innovators, designing integrated solutions that the world should follow.
But their voices remain marginalised. Delegations from fragile states often lack the resources to shape negotiations. International actors dominate the agenda, offering top-down solutions that overlook local realities. This exclusion is not only unjust, but also counterproductive. Climate security cannot be addressed without the leadership of those who live its consequences daily. Africa and the Global South must be recognised not just as stakeholders, but as strategic partners. Their experience, innovation, and resilience must shape global climate policy.
What COP30 must deliver
COP30 is not a lost cause. There is still time to act and concrete steps that can be taken. First, climate security must be formally recognised in COP outcomes. This means acknowledging conflict-related vulnerabilities and ensuring they are reflected in climate finance frameworks. Second, conflict-affected regions must receive fair and accessible climate finance. This includes support for locally led, conflict-sensitive resilience efforts, and mechanisms that prioritize adaptation in fragile contexts. Third, the UNFCCC must establish institutional frameworks to coordinate climate-security efforts.
This could include a dedicated working group, technical support for fragile states, and integration of climate-security indicators into national plans. Fourth, host countries must be held accountable for inclusive, transparent, and rights-based climate governance. This means removing barriers to participation, protecting civil society space, and ensuring that COP is not used for greenwashing or peacewashing.
Finally, the climate-security agenda must be grounded in the lived experiences of those most affected. This means elevating local knowledge, supporting community-driven solutions, and ensuring that climate action promotes resilience, equity, and peace, not exclusion or militarisation.
This moment demands that we amplify those most affected by climate insecurity, and push global leaders to act. Climate peace is not a side issue. It is the foundation of sustainable development, justice, and global stability.
“If COP30 cannot protect the most vulnerable, what future is it negotiating?”
By Gabriel Lagrange, Climate Security Lead, Surge Africa
The Director-General, National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mrs. Tenioye Majekodunmi, says Nigeria is ready for 32.2 per cent emission reduction by 2035.
Majekodunmi said this on Thursday, November 13, 2025, during a meeting on Climate Finance and Carbon Markets on the side of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) of the Parties in Belem, Brazil.
According to her, the 32.2 per cent emission reduction will have an estimated annual Carbon market value of about $2.5 billion by 2030.
NCCC D-G, Mrs. Tenioye Majekodunmi
“This reflects a strategic vision to leverage mark-based and non-market mechanisms to meet and exceed the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments.
“This ambitious target is underpinned by the potential for significant investments in low-carbon and clean energy projects, which will reduce emission and drive sustainable economic growth, create jobs, and provide new revenue streams for climate interventions.
“As Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria is poised to lead as Africa`s hub for high-integrity Carbon market investment, setting the benchmark for low-carbon, climate-resilient socio-economic development,” she said.
The NCCC director-general said the Carbon Market Activation Policy (CMAP) was designed to bolster carbon market activities in the countries.
According to her, the policy provides the guidelines and procedures that will foster Nigeria’s objective to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions while promoting sustainable development through the carbon market mechanism.
“This policy informs Nigeria’s efforts to provide a well-defined system that will coordinate progress in GHG emissions reduction, address fiscal-related issue (like taxes, subsidies among others and build investor’s confidence.
“Also, to establish a detained institutional arrangement that clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders and ensures the generation of high integrity and high-quality carbon credits, while also safeguarding market transparency.
“A key objective of this policy is to facilitate Nigeria`s participation in national, regional, continental, and international Carbon markets,” she said.
She said the policy would also enhance development of governance and regulatory mechanisms that would encourage international and local investors to develop emission reduction projects to support national climate mitigation goals while availing funds for sustainable development.
Speaking, Mrs. Tariye Gbadegesin, the Chief Executive Officer, Climate Investment Funds, said Nigeria had one of the best Carbon Market Framework policies in the world.
Gbadegesin maintained that the nation was indeed ready for the carbon market in the country.
According to her, Nigeria`s institutional framework provides clear roles and responsibilities for all the institutions that will be involved in the carbon market mechanism.
“This will ensure that there is no overlap or duplication of responsibilities. This robust institutional framework will govern the country’s participation in both Article 6 mechanisms under the Paris Agreement and Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM).
“The Nigeria’s institutional framework also provides other mechanisms such as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
“The institutional framework will be backed by the regulatory framework that the government intends to develop,” she said.
