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New study identifies sequence of critical thresholds for Antarctic ice basins

Michael Simire
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New study identifies sequence of critical thresholds for Antarctic ice basins

The Antarctic ice sheet does not behave as one single tipping element, but as a set of interacting basins with different critical thresholds.

This is the finding of a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (MPI-GEA).

With today’s warming, about 40 percent of the ice stored in West Antarctica may already be committed to long-term loss, while parts of East Antarctica could cross thresholds at moderate levels of warming between 2 to 3°C compared to pre-industrial levels, contributing significantly to global long-term sea-level rise.

Melting Antarctic ice
Melting Antarctic ice

“It’s not one single threshold we need to watch in Antarctica – it’s a sequence,” explains Ricarda Winkelmann, MPI-GEA director, PIK scientist and lead author of the study published in Nature Climate Change. “In fact, we find that ice loss in some Antarctic basins unfolds gradually with warming, whereas other basins are characterised by a tipping point, beyond which the loss of ice accelerates disproportionally to the warming and can be irreversible over centuries to millennia.” 

Some regions like the Amundsen Sea basin including the Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers, and the Ronne basin in West Antarctica have the lowest thresholds, and might already be past their tipping points at today’s roughly 1.3°C of global warming.

“Crossing a tipping point doesn’t mean immediate collapse,” Winkelmann notes. “Large-scale ice loss in these regions unfolds over centuries, but the process may already have been set in motion in parts of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.”

Julius Garbe, PIK scientist and co-author of the study, adds: “And it’s not just West Antarctica: in East Antarctica, the ice mass is large enough to contribute ten times more to sea-level rise than its western counterpart. Massive regions like the Wilkes Basin are also increasingly at risk of substantial ice loss with sustained warming of 2 to 5 °C above pre-industrial levels.”

Simulating 18 basins reveals interacting and cascading risks

The Antarctic Ice Sheet is the largest concentration of ice on Earth, containing enough ice to raise global sea levels by more than 58 metres if melted entirely. In the study, MPI-GEA and PIK researchers analyse the distinct nature and risk of potential long-term ice loss for 18 individual Antarctic drainage basins, at different levels of global warming.

The researchers ran simulations with the Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM), incrementally increasing the global mean temperature and mapping the long-term response of each basin. The study highlights that the draining basins interact, meaning that ice loss in one region can lead to cascading feedbacks in connected basins.

“The Antarctic ice sheet took millions of years to form, but with global emissions continuously rising, we may lock it onto a path of long-term loss within the coming decades,” states Torsten Albrecht, MPI-GEA and PIK scientist and co-author of the study. 

Ricarda Winkelmann, just returning from several weeks of fieldwork in Antarctica, adds: “Seeing how rapidly some regions in Antarctica are already responding to anthropogenic climate change, how extreme weather events are not only becoming more frequent but lead to subsequent changes in the ice dynamics, really puts into perspective the vulnerability of this vast ice sheet.

“Our mapping of potential regional tipping points shows where the greatest risks lie on the long term, and which regions of the Antarctic Ice Sheet need closest monitoring. Cutting greenhouse gas emissions rapidly is imperative to prevent further destabilisation of ice basins.”

Segun Adediran: Watchdog and the death row metaphor

Michael Simire
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Segun Adediran: Watchdog and the death row metaphor

The architecture of death row is not built of stone and steel, but of stagnant time. To be on
death row is to live in the “After” – dead, yet living. You are a ghost inhabiting a body that the
state has already marked as a tragic clerical error.

It is the only place on Earth where the future is not a mystery, but a fixed point on a calendar: a Tuesday at dawn, a Thursday at midnight, creeping toward you with the silent, rhythmic inevitability of a tide.

On the row, the world shrinks to the size of a postage stamp. It is never truly silent, but the noise is dead. It is a paradox of hope – a matter of “just in case” The cruelty of the row isn’t just the isolation; it is the litigation of hope.

Segun Adediran
Segun Adediran

Globally, journalism, society’s watchdog, is on death row: a case of hoping against hope. As the
predatory rise of Generative AI (GAI) and Big Tech intensifies, newsrooms are navigating the
architecture of “Media Death Row”. Through hyper-personalised, AI-driven silos, GAI firms have built a multi-billion-dollar industry on a foundation of mass copyright infringement. They treat the life’s work of journalists as raw material – scraped without permission, processed without payment and condemned to death without trial. This is unfair!

Damning data shows that the clock is ticking! In 2025, the global media industry faced a
“structural collapse” as Big Tech pivoted from a referral-based web to a consumption-based
“buffet” Digital advertising shift; declining print traffic and AI disruption are the executioners.

The most staggering loss was the evaporation of digital foot traffic. News publishers saw their
share of Google Search referrals plummet from 51% in 2023 to just 27% by the end of 2025 – a direct result of “zero-click” AI Overviews that satisfy user queries without passing on the click.

While the total global advertising pie expanded to $1.14 trillion, the spoils were increasingly
sequestered. Alphabet (Google) alone crossed the $100 billion quarterly revenue threshold in
Q3 2025. Meanwhile, premium publishers reported organic traffic declines of up to 25%. The
numbers for 2026 are even gloomier.

This year, global search referrals to publishers have collapsed by an additional 33%. Like the
indifferent light of a cell block, GAI summaries satisfy queries without a single click. “Zero-click” searches now sit at 69%, leaving publishers to starve in the shadows. This shift has effectively transformed the open web into a training set for GAI, forcing trusted media to survive on “crumbs” – relying on licensing deals and niche subscriptions.

For the mainstream press, the loss was colossal in terms of readership and ad revenue. An
estimated $2.3 billion in annual global ad revenue has sadly been diverted from those who
report the news to those who merely summarise it.

For instance, in the first half of the 2025/2026 cycle alone, the industry saw catastrophic job cuts linked directly to this AI-driven traffic collapse. The Washington Post announced roughly 300 job cuts (about 30% of staff), shuttering its sports desk, and shrinking other departments due to reported losses of $100 million in 2024 and falling subscriptions.

It appears a total eclipse is dangerously on the horizon. GAI “Answer Engines” have
transformed from bridges into walls. Reports show that while Google Search used to send a visitor for every 14 times it crawled a site, AI firms are now scraping sites 13 million times (yes, you heard me right), while delivering as few as 650 visits.

Even at that, industry experts still predict an additional 43% decline in search traffic over the
next three years, the window for action is closing rapidly. And the hangman’s noose is getting
nearer.

This is not just a threat to publishers; it is a suicide pact for the AI industry. If we allow GAI to
bankrupt the people who produce original, verified journalism, the AI will eventually have
nothing to “eat” but its own digital rubbish and waste. Every layoff in a newsroom represents a
“last”: the last investigative report, the last local court reporter, the last check on power, the last editorial board member.

Gladly, some countries are pushing back, loosening the hangman’s noose on their press. Not
because they so much love the press, but because they subscribed to the statement of Thomas
Jefferson (1743-1826) that: “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter”.

From the EU’s AI Act to Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code and South Africa’s
compensation deal – the world is waking up. These are not merely regulations; they are
emergency interventions designed to stop Big Tech from cannibalising the ecosystem that
sustains it and protects the values of freedom and democracy that keep humanity sane and
humane.

But on death row, there is a brutal “litigation of hope” For newsrooms, that hope is the belief
that high-quality journalism still matters. We don’t need more “wait and see” approaches; we
demand economic justice. Litigation alone is insufficient; the New York Times disclosed
spending a colossal $10.8 million in 2024 on GAI-related legal expenses, but that is a drop in
the bucket for the “filthy rich” tech and AI firms.

The argument is simple: as the Nigerian government is obligated to protect citizens against fake drugs through NAFDAC, the Tinubu administration is equally obligated to protect Nigeria, its democracy, and citizens’ rights against Big Tech and AI’s insidious practices.

This is not the time to sit on the fence. Pastor Martin Niemöller’s famous warning about silence
in the face of tyranny rings true here. If we do not speak for the journalists today, there will be
no one left to verify the truth tomorrow.

Trusted news media need governments and intellectual property offices worldwide to decisively
enforce digital fairness and the digital border. Without urgent intervention – transparency
mandates, the right to opt-out of scraping without losing search visibility, and fair compensation – the “Death Row” of journalism will reach its final Tuesday at dawn. When the
last trusted newsroom goes dark, GAI will have plenty to say, but nothing true to talk about.
All told, governments should stand for fair and sustainable journalism. Big Tech and GAI should
be a tool to support human-led journalism, but not a replacement for it.

Adediran, the CEO of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), writes via olusegunadediran@gmail.com

Seetsele Nthomiwa on conservation: From Gaborone to the global screen

Michael Simire
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Seetsele Nthomiwa on conservation: From Gaborone to the global screen

Seetsele Nthomiwa is a natural history long-lens camera operator and presenter from Botswana, celebrated worldwide for his compelling visual storytelling of Africa’s wildlife. His work includes the “Big Cats 24/7 Series 1 & 2” for BBC and PBS, “I am Okavango”, and the Emmy-nominated “Living with Leopards” on Netflix.

He is featured as the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) Foundation’s Friend of the Month in a conversation that highlights his commitment to conservation and impact-driven filmmaking.

Seetsele Nthomiwa
Seetsele Nthomiwa

Hi Seetsele, can you tell us a little about yourself and where you grew up?

I am a nature lover and a storyteller. I love both telling stories and listening to them. I grew up in the city, Gaborone, which is Botswana’s capital. Although I was a city boy, I loved watching wildlife shows. I remember watching Savage Season on VHS tapes that my parents bought, and once we got DSTV, I binge-watched NatGeo every chance I got. In my earlier years in school, we’d go on school trips to a nature reserve just outside the city called Mokolodi and Gaborone Game Reserve. I think that’s where the seed of my current career got planted.

What first sparked your interest in wildlife and filmmaking?

I didn’t just consume wildlife shows; I became active in the natural history world in school. I joined my first conservation club in junior high school, the Cheetah Conservation Society. They got me hooked by teaching us about the African wild dog (my favourite animal then). And when I went to study my undergrad at the University of Botswana, I joined the University of Botswana Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society (UBWECS). I figured since my undergrad was in media studies, and I love wildlife, I would absolutely love a career that combines the two. And I was right.

As a wildlife cinematographer, what do you enjoy most about filming animals in the wild?

The thing about filming wildlife is that all I have to do is witness what is happening in nature, and I just happen to be holding a camera. Life in the wild will always go on. All the fauna and flora go through a cycle of life and death. And I am very blessed to be one of the few people in the world to witness life in the wild unfolding. The lives of the animals aren’t too different from our lives as humans, I must admit. They are complicated, emotive, and, at the end of the day, life moves on, just like we do. 

While working on productions like Big Cats 24/7, is there a moment behind the camera that really stands out for you?

There are tonnes of moments during production that I wish to share with the world. A lot of what we see out here is not filmed. But what really stands out to me during the productions is the camaraderie that is built in the relentless wilderness. Nature is unforgiving, and long shoots often take a toll on you. I am very fortunate to have worked in an environment that not only fostered great relationships and a work ethic but also lifelong friendships outside of production. Genuine, good-hearted people, from all the variations of production teams to supporting staff.

Have you encountered the elephant populations in the Okavango Delta? If so, how have those experiences been?

I have cultivated my career in Botswana’s wilderness. Encountering elephants is something that is a certainty. I’ve had dicey moments around breeding herds, but I’ve had more wonderful encounters with them. The most magical moments I’ve had were around breeding herds in the evening. Fortunately, the elephants that I’ve filmed have been kind to me. With that said, I remember being woken up by a bull elephant shaking my truck… It was scratching itself on the spare tyre at the back of the truck, hahaha.

You often speak about the pride you feel in showing Botswana to the world. What do you hope audiences take away from your work?

I am proud of what Botswana has to offer to the world. Nothing will make me happier than sharing stories about my country with the world. Not just mainstream stories but intricate stories as well. The experiences my people have with wildlife are not black and white; neither should their stories be. A balance should be struck. Working in the wild can be unpredictable.

What has living and filming in such dynamic environments taught you?

You must be ready for anything in the wild. That is the first thing that is drilled into you. Nature has its own rhythm; the more time you spend in an area, the more you understand its ebb and flow. That rhythm informs how you track and find the wildlife and, most importantly, how you film it. And the best thing you can do is to be welcoming to nature. The energy you give her is the energy you’ll get back. 

What has been one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned since starting your career in wildlife filmmaking?

The biggest lesson of my career is patience: a steady belief that all your efforts will contribute to growth in your career. Patience when filming; the amount of waiting for the “perfect shot” demands it. Exercising patience has helped me make sense of my career and film the best sequences of my career. That patience needs to be coupled with tenacity as well.

For young people in Botswana who dream of working with wildlife or film, what advice would you give them?

Everyone has a story bubbling from within. Find out how that can manifest for you. I am blessed to be the first native Motswana to break into the natural history film industry. I am ready to celebrate new stories from other people, stories that will inspire more people to thrive in this industry. I want to be inspired as well. I’m always happy to have a chat about this industry and finding your place in it. For those looking to join this industry, be tenacious, bold, genuine, and patient; it will all work out.

Experts advance first effectiveness evaluation of Minamata Convention

Michael Simire
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Experts advance first effectiveness evaluation of Minamata Convention

The Effectiveness Evaluation Group under the Minamata Convention on Mercury gathered in Geneva from February 9 to 11, 2026.

While the group has already met seven times on-line, this was the first face-to-face meeting, marking a key milestone in preparing the Convention’s first global assessment of its impact. The in-person meeting brought together 30 participants, including Members of the Group from Parties and observers, to review progress and shape the next steps of this important process. The session was co-chaired by Kateřina Šebková (Czech Republic) and Linroy Christian (Antigua and Barbuda).

Minamata Convention
The Effectiveness Evaluation Group under the Minamata Convention on Mercury gathering in Geneva

Participants reviewed a preliminary draft of the report and agreed to further elaborate on it ahead of the next meeting. National reports submitted under Article 21 remain a key source of information, and the Secretariat provided an update on the second full reporting cycle, which has already reached a 76 per cent submission rate. 

Over the three days, discussions were both fruitful and highly interactive. The Group focused on key areas of the Convention, including mercury supply and trade, mercury-added products and processes, artisanal and small-scale gold mining, emissions and releases, waste and contaminated sites, financial and technical support, and information and knowledge.

Participants also worked on identifying the main findings that will shape the report and help streamline it into clear and actionable elements for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its seventh meeting in 2027. The co-chairs of the Open-Ended Scientific Group (OESG) provided an update on the development of the draft scientific report on mercury emissions, releases and levels in biota and humans. 

In their closing remarks, the co-chairs and the Executive Secretary thanked participants for three days of intensive and constructive work. Co-chair, Linroy Christian, expressed “appreciation for the dedication shown throughout the meeting and for the Secretariat’s steady support behind the scenes”.

Co-chair, Kateřina Šebková, underlined that “the Group has made a significant step forward in developing the draft report. A clear pathway is now in place to deliver the next phase of work on time and with quality”.

Executive Secretary, Monika Stankiewicz, thanked members for their time, “intellectual engagement and openness in addressing challenges and successes”.

The effectiveness evaluation will provide reflections on the extent to which existing measures under the Convention serve the objective of protecting human health and the environment from mercury. This first evaluation will further serve as a baseline for future reviews and will be an important contribution to COP-7, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of entry-into-force of the Convention. 

The ninth meeting of the Group will be held online in June 2026.

Environmentalist urges households to tackle organic waste

Michael Simire
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Environmentalist urges households to tackle organic waste

An environmental expert, Hajara Danmusa, has urged households, especially women, to adopt simple organic waste recycling practices to reduce methane emissions and support climate change mitigation.

Organic waste consists of biodegradable materials from living organisms that can be recycled into valuable resources like compost and biogas.

Danmusa, a Water Resources and Environmental Engineer, made the call in an interview on Monday, February 16, 2026.

Organic waste
Organic waste

She explained that methane, a greenhouse gas produced during the decomposition of organic waste, contributes greatly to climate change when such waste is indiscriminately dumped.

According to her, drying, grinding and storing organic waste, or composting it, can substantially reduce methane released into the atmosphere.

“Even without drying, households can compost by putting organic waste in a bucket and mixing it with dry leaves, grasses, ash or sand,” she said.

Danmusa added that processed organic waste could be converted into briquettes; a form of charcoal made from agricultural residue or used to improve soil fertility by mixing it with clay or sandy soil to achieve a loamy texture.

She noted that the practice was simple and scalable at the household level, stressing that widespread adoption would reduce the volume of waste sent to dumpsites and cut methane emissions.

The engineer encouraged women to explore home gardening using composted waste, adding that such initiatives could also create income opportunities through the production of compost, seedlings and briquettes.

She said awareness creation remained crucial and called for collaboration among stakeholders, including the media and climate groups, to train interested women and youths on sorting and processing organic waste.

Danmusa also highlighted the role of eggshells as a catalyst in composting, noting that they help improve soil nutrients and conditioning.

She emphasised the need to move from advocacy to implementation, saying practical steps must now demonstrate that climate solutions are achievable.

By Aisha Gambo

AU summit maps out key priorities for Africa’s development

Michael Simire
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AU summit maps out key priorities for Africa’s development

The 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) mapped out a path for Africa’s future to include water security, stability and global representation.

AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who is also the current chairperson of the AU, underpinned the summit’s strategic and direction-setting deliberations.

The assembly meeting, which brought together African leaders at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, from Saturday, February 14 to Sunday, February 15. was held under the AU’s 2026 theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”

Evariste Ndayishimiye
President of Burundi and AU Chairperson, Evariste Ndayishimiye

Youssouf said African leaders reaffirmed their commitment to collective action and African-led solutions to a range of continental priorities.

It includes deepening constitutional governance and stability, economic integration, climate action, institutional reform of the AU, enhancing the AU’s participation in the Group of Twenty, as well as Africa’s adequate representation in the global governance architecture, among others.

“The summit pinpointed our heads of state’s zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government on our continent. We need peace and stability on this continent.

“The summit underscored the necessity and determination to pursue the goal of silencing the guns,” he added.

Ndayishimiye, for his part, noted the summit’s emphasis on enhancing sustainable water management to power Africa’s socio-economic development ambitions.

Describing Africa’s quest for water security as “existential” for the continent’s future, he said the choice reflects a deep conviction and that “without equitable access to water and sanitation, we cannot talk about public health or inclusive development.’’ 

Nigeria validates policy to tackle marine litter

Michael Simire
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Nigeria validates policy to tackle marine litter

The Federal Ministry of Environment on Monday, February 16, 2026, convened key stakeholders in Abuja to validate a landmark policy brief aimed at tackling marine litter to advance Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy.

Mrs. Falmata Bukar-Kolo, the Deputy Director, Solid Waste Management and Technology Division in the ministry, warned that plastic pollution poses serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and public health.

She stated that microplastics have already entered the food chain through fish consumption, while clogged waterways, soil contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions from burning plastics are worsening the environmental crisis.

Plastic waste pollution
Plastic waste pollution

Bukar-Kolo said that plastics, though widely used, are non-biodegradable and persist in the environment for years.

She called for improved waste management systems, stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, and behavioural change amongst citizens and businesses.

Mr. Clem Ugorji, Regional Coordinator of PROTEGO, emphasised the urgency of action, saying Nigeria’s marine litter crisis carries environmental, economic, and reputational costs.

He expressed optimism that the 2025 to 2040 roadmap endorsed at the workshop would shift the country from prolonged dialogue to concrete implementation.

The event was organised in collaboration with PROTEGO (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Gulf of Guinea).

Discussions centred on a draft policy input paper titled “Policies, Institutional Set-up and Financing of Marine Litter Prevention in Nigeria”.

These seek to present insightful analysis and a set of recommendations to address the structural and financing gaps that have long hindered effective waste management, particularly plastic leakage from inland communities and waterways into the Atlantic Ocean.

The PROTEGO initiative is supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection and led by adelphi, with implementation in Nigeria by WASTE Africa and the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC).

The policy brief is a key delivery for one of the programme’s four impact areas – building capacities of public stakeholders.

By Abigael Joshua

NIMC to commence nationwide ward-level enrollment for NIN registration

Michael Simire
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NIMC to commence nationwide ward-level enrollment for NIN registration

In line with the presidential directive mandating the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to take NIN enrollment to the grassroots and wards nationwide, the NIMC has disclosed that registration and enrollment for issuance of the National Identification Number (NIN) at wards nationwide will commence on Monday, February 16, 2026.

The nationwide exercise is designed to ensure the comprehensive registration of every Nigerian citizen and legal resident, including children and adults, into the National Identity Database. The enrollment will be conducted free of charge, in furtherance of the Federal Government’s renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at promoting inclusive governance, national development, and access to identity services.

Abisoye Coker-Odusote
Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General/CEO, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)

The ward-level enrolment initiative represents a strategic step towards deepening identity inclusion, decentralising services, and bringing registration to the ward level (communities), thereby improving accessibility, reducing travel burden, and promoting nationwide participation. NIMC encourages all Nigerians and legal residents who are yet to enroll to take advantage of this opportunity and participate fully in the exercise.

To this end, the Commission has started engaging stakeholders at the national, state, and local government levels with sensitisation and awareness campaigns on the importance of, benefits of, and use of NIN. State governments, heads of local governments, traditional rulers, community leaders, and market associations, as well as faith-based organisations, are being consulted to ensure a smooth and seamless registration across all the wards nationwide.

Members of the public are hereby encouraged to come out en masse to take advantage of the ward-to-ward enrollment exercise to enroll their children, parents, wards, and family members within their community.

The ward enrolment schedules that will guide the rotational movement of licensed front-end partners and NIMC staff can be seen on the NIMC website: www.nimc.gov.ng.

Heat, blackouts push Abuja residents to the brink

Michael Simire
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Heat, blackouts push Abuja residents to the brink

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are groaning under the combined weight of intense heat and persistent power outages, saying the situation has made restful sleep almost impossible.

A cross-section of residents who spoke in Abuja on Sunday, February 15, 2026, described the current weather conditions as unbearable, noting that the epileptic power supply across many communities has worsened their plight.

In areas such as Kubwa, Orozo and Kuje, residents said electricity supply has been irregular for months, forcing families to endure long, hot nights without fans, air conditioners or other cooling devices.

Abuja
Abuja

Ms. Edna Awe, a resident of Kubwa, said the unstable power supply in her area has left her exhausted and frustrated, as the intense heat has made sleeping comfortably a daily struggle.

Awe said that power has not been stable in her area for months adding that she  has been unable to sleep comfortably because of the unbearable weather condition.

“I am appealing to authorities concerned with power supply that they should try and do something about this pathetic situation.

“The regulatory agencies must  check the activities of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to ensure that consumers get value for their money,” she said.

Mr. Samuel Odey, also a resident of Kubwa, expressed deep concern over the persistent electricity challenges, emphasising that nearly every aspect of modern life depends on a stable power supply.

He described the situation as alarming, noting that most daily activities revolve around electricity and that its absence disrupts virtually everything.

According to him, life becomes significantly difficult without power.

He explained that even while at home, he is unable to relax or carry out basic tasks because there is no electricity.

Odey described the situation as a wake-up call to the government and other stakeholders in the power sector, urging them to take urgent and decisive action to ensure a steady and reliable electricity supply.

Similarly, Mrs. Vivian Olotu, who lives in the Orozo community, said power supply in her area is highly inconsistent.

She explained that residents sometimes go two to three days without electricity, a situation that has become particularly distressing due to the intense heat.

She lamented that children are unable to sleep comfortably at night.

“Even, when families resort to using generators, the noise makes it difficult to rest.

“I am appealing to the government to make every possible effort to address the longstanding problems facing the power sector,” she said.

Mr. Udo Asuquo, also a resident of Orozo, said the inadequate power supply is taking a toll on both his health and his small business.

He revealed that the intense heat and lack of electricity prevented him from sleeping well, which in turn affected his ability to concentrate.

Asuquo added that the little business he relied on to feed his family suffered because there of no stable electricity to run it properly.

“The situation, is deeply troubling and leaves me uncertain about what steps to take next,” he said.

In Kuje, Mrs. Angela Pam described the heat as severe and overwhelming.

She said that at times, members of her household are forced to remain in their corridor until about 1 a.m. just to get some fresh air before going indoors.

Pam noted that the practice exposed them to security risks, given the prevailing safety concerns in the country.

Like other residents, she appealed for urgent intervention to ensure a steady and reliable electricity supply.

Meanwhile, the AEDC had attributed the persistent poor power supply to low power generation currently being experienced nationwide.

The reason given by the AEDC for the power situation, notwithstanding, residents have continued to call for swift and sustainable solutions to ease their hardship.

By Constance Imasuen

Stakeholders express divergent views on Lagos’ New Tenancy Bill 2025/2026

Michael Simire
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Stakeholders express divergent views on Lagos’ New Tenancy Bill 2025/2026

Some lawyers in Lagos State have lauded the proposed state tenancy law, describing it as a welcome development, while calling for effective measures to ensure its proper regulation and prevent oppression.

The lawyers spoke in separate interviews in Lagos on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

According to the lawyers, when the proposed tenancy law comes into effect, it should be properly monitored to ensure that its provisions are not applied in an oppressive manner.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State

They emphasised that effective oversight and strict enforcement would be necessary to prevent any form of abuse and to ensure that the law achieved its intended purpose of protecting both landlords and tenants.

The Attorney General of Lagos, Mr. Lawal Pedro, said on Tuesday that the ministry had presented a bill to the State House of Assembly to reform the state’s landlord-tenant law.

Pedro explained that the reform was aimed at fast-tracking litigation in court, reducing the duration of cases to between three months and six months.

The proposed Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill (2025/2026) prohibits landlords from demanding more than one year’s rent from new tenants or more than three months’ rent from monthly tenants.

The bill enforces the issuance of mandatory rent receipts, caps agent fees at 10 per cent (or five per cent, according to some reports), and introduces seven-day eviction notices for tenants who default on rent.

Reacting to the development, a Lagos-based rights activist, Mr. Spurgeon Ataene, described the move as commendable and called for regular engagement between the government, landlords, and tenants.

The lawyers said that the proposed tenancy law when made effective, should be monitored to ensure its letters were not used in an oppressive manner.

“This manner of rent control is as spurious as it is wanton; I will recommend that governments have an interface with them, to see how best to control rent.

“Imagine paying as much as five million naira for some three-bedroom flats on the Island and Mainland; what would you have left, for school fees and feeding?” he queried.

Ataene noted that these laws could only become effective, if rents were made affordable by the intervention of governments.

“What is more troubling is the enforcement.

“Who should errant agents be reported to, and how many courts do we have to cater to the population and the massive number of cases that may end up in court if a tenant does not vacate the property after seven days?

“These concerns raise questions about the capacity of the existing judicial system and whether it can effectively handle the potential surge in tenancy-related disputes.

“This law is a direct call for anarchy whichever way one looks at. Everyone cannot be on the same level and therefore, capable of paying such exorbitant rent as at when due,” he stated.

He, however, cautioned that landlords should not be allowed to use this as an excuse to engage in self-help by forcefully evicting their tenants while citing a breach of the seven-day notice.

“I must say that for this legal approach to be effective, the government must first address housing problems and make homes affordable to the masses, excluding the rich from bidding for such houses.

“Secondly, food must be affordable. These two needs, if addressed, will determine the effectiveness of the implementation of this law,” he said.

On his part, the convener of the Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary, Mr Bayo Akinlade, noted that “as long as the recovery of premises is resolved by the courts, the mischief the law seeks to curb would still have to be addressed by the courts.”

“This will still require going to court for interpretation and enforcement,” he said.

While identifying inadequate housing as a major challenge faced by residents, he noted that private individuals often bore the burden of providing shelter, amid what he described as outrageous demands.

He urged that the law be enacted using available data on housing and tenancy disputes to guide its review and implementation.

Akinlade further stated that some landlords would always display the typical traits associated with landlords, but expressed optimism that the new law would seek to correct the imbalance.

Another Lagos-based lawyer, Dr Yemi Omodele, in his contribution, noted that the state had been an initiator of progressive policies in the country and across West Africa, but that implementation remained a major challenge.

Omodele said the state had consistently amended and updated its laws to address the evolving needs and development of its citizens.

According to him, the new tenancy law is a welcome development for the judicial system, but stakeholders must be carried along in the lawmaking process.

Omodele said, “Lawyers handling cases for landlords and tenants should be carried along so that their experiences will be tapped with a view to getting a perfect law.

“However, in the absence of that, there is bound to be a lacuna.”

“If you go to all the magistrates’ courts in the state, you will see thousands of landlord and tenancy cases.

“You will see some courts listing 30 to 40 cases in a day, which is rather sad.

“If the new law comes into force and it is able to address it, fine, but I do not know how the law is going to address this problem to the extent that people will not be filing landlord-tenancy cases in court,” he said.

A landlord, Mr. Saheed Olafimihan, said delays in tenancy litigation had negatively affected rental income and property management.

Olafimihan, however, expressed cautious optimism about the reform.

“Prolonged cases in court have seriously impacted my rental income and when matters linger, landlords bear the financial burden.

“If the proposed tenancy law is truly implemented, I believe it can create a win-win situation for both landlords and tenants,” he said.

A tenant, Mrs. Grace Chibueze, however, expressed concern that the proposed three-month timeline might weaken tenants’ ability to defend themselves adequately.

Chibueze urged the government to strengthen mediation and legal support structures, to protect vulnerable tenants.

“My worry is whether tenants will have enough time to properly present their cases before judgment is delivered.

“The Citizen Mediation Centre and other agencies must be accessible and effective, especially for indigent tenants,” Chibueze said.

By Sandra Umeh and Adenike Ayodele

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