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Nigeria must intensify strategies to achieve sustainable devt – Gbajabiamila

Michael Simire
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Nigeria must intensify strategies to achieve sustainable devt – Gbajabiamila

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, says Nigeria must intensify its internal strategies to achieve sustainable development with shrinking global multilateral cooperation.

Gbajabiamila
L-R: Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, and Mr Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, at the official validation of 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), launch of the SDGs Progress Report 2024 and an Inclusive Data Charter (IDC) Action Plan, in Abuja

Gbajabiamila said this during the official validation of the 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR), the inauguration of Nigeria SDGs Progress Report 2024 and unveiling of Inclusive Data Charter (IDC) Action Plan, on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Abuja.

“In a shrinking multilateral space, we must look inwards for sustainable solutions to our economic, social and environmental challenges,” he stated.

Gbajabiamila underscored the vital role of the SDGs as a strategic framework to guide these efforts.

He noted that Nigeria’s commitment – demonstrated by the successful conduct of VNRs in 2017, 2020, and now 2025 – reflected the government’s resolve to meet the 2030 target.

He commended Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, for her tireless leadership in coordinating the process.

He explained that the 2025 VNR followed six regional consultations held in March 2025 across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

He said exercise assessed progress, identified gaps, and gathered input for the upcoming High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) at the United Nations in July.

He explained that the consultations underscored the importance of inclusive, participatory, and evidence-based approaches to fast tracking the implementation of SDG.

Gbajabiamila also called on ministries, departments, agencies, development partners, the private sector, academia and civil society to deepen collaboration and mobilise resources to ensure no one was left behind in Nigeria’s sustainable development journey.

He reiterated the Tinubu administration’s unwavering commitment to the SDGs, describing sustainable development as a cardinal objective within the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He conveyed President Tinubu’s best wishes, noting his strong interest in achieving the SDGs.

“When world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, they envisioned a just and truly egalitarian society where no one is left behind.

“Achieving the SDGs will mean ending poverty and hunger, safeguarding our ecosystem and ensuring our people live in peace and prosperity by 2030 and beyond,” Gbajabiamila said.

In her welcome address, Orelope-Adefulire told stakeholders that the national validation workshop reinforced Nigeria’s deepening commitment to the 2030 Agenda.

She noted that nearly a decade after the adoption of the SDGs at the 70th UN General Assembly, Nigeria continued to demonstrate resolve in achieving them.

She referenced the 2024 United Nations SDGs Report, which showed that only 17 per cent of global targets were on track, with developing countries and the poorest populations bearing the greatest burdens.

“Lack of progress towards the SDGs is universal, but developing countries and the world’s poorest people are bearing the brunt,” she remarked.

Orelope-Adefulire described the VNR process as a critical component of the HLPF review mechanism, offering transparency and accountability at the national level.

She noted that Nigeria’s 2025 VNR was the product of extensive consultations across all six geopolitical zones.

She said the consultations included targeted engagements with persons with disabilities, youth and children.

“This national validation workshop not only reaffirms our commitment to the 2030 Agenda but also demonstrates our resolve to ground implementation in inclusive, evidence based, and participatory principles,” she said.

She urged participants to critically assess the VNR’s findings and recommendations to ensure a robust final report.

The Nigeria SDGs Progress Report 2024, unveiled at the workshop, provided a detailed goal-by-goal analysis of achievements and setbacks, while offering strategic recommendations for policymakers at all levels.

Orelope-Adefulire also announced the inauguration of Nigeria’s Inclusive Data Charter Action Plan 2024, developed in partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics and Sightsavers Nigeria.

“Our commitment to leaving no one behind must be data driven and evidence based,” she said.

She added that the IDC Plan reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to disaggregated and inclusive data systems as the foundation of accountable development.

She praised the Multi-Stakeholder Core Working Group for its coordination of the VNR process, acknowledging its diverse membership spanning government agencies, the UN system, civil society, academia, and the disability community.

She also thanked Sightsavers Nigeria for its support in ensuring the active participation of persons with disabilities.

Mr. Mohamed Fall, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, delivered a goodwill message in which he commended the Federal Government for its inclusive approach to the VNR and reiterated the UN’s ongoing technical and financial support.

“With less than five years remaining, the SDGs are globally off track. But Nigeria’s participatory approach gives us hope that the course can still be corrected,” he stated.

Fall highlighted Nigeria’s role among the 39 countries presenting VNRs at the 2025 HLPF, offering a platform to showcase transformative and science-based strategies.

He urged the workshop to produce actionable recommendations to address challenges such as poverty, inequality and climate change.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) echoed similar sentiments. Represented by Mr. Eghosa Omoigui, Assistant Director, Mr. Abdulateef Shittu, NGF Director General, cited subnational progress from Kwara, Lagos, Gombe and Edo states as proof of local innovation driving change.

“Resource gaps, data limitations, and climate impacts test our resilience, but they sharpen our resolve to act smarter and leave no one behind,” he said.

He added that the NGF was committed to supporting states in localising the SDGs through innovation, partnerships and knowledge sharing.

He urged participants to transform the validation process into a renewed commitment to the 2030 Agenda, stressing, “Nigeria’s story is one of resilience, partnership, and the promise of delivering on sustainable development.”

By Salif Atojoko

Climate change: Plant trees rather than throw parties – NCF DG

Michael Simire
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Climate change: Plant trees rather than throw parties – NCF DG

The Director-General of Nigeria Conservative Foundation (NCF), Dr. Joseph Onoja, has called on Nigerians to organise tree planting events to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries rather than throw lavish parties.

Joseph Onoja
Dr. Joseph Onoja

Onoja made the call on Friday, May 2, 2025, in Abuja at the maiden edition of the Abuja Garden Festival, against the backdrop of severe heatwave being experienced across the country.

He said that being intentional about tree planting by channelling resources to it would go a long way to reduce the effects of climate change in the country.

“Rather than throwing parties during your anniversaries and birthdays, organise trees planting events.

“This is so that we will have trees around us that will be able to play the role we are supposed to play to create more resilience, especially, in the face of climate change.

“In the coastal areas, we have erosions while in the North, we have desertification coming in. So, we need to have trees around us to be able to stop that from happening.”

Sen. Ede Dafinone, in a keynote address, said that the Federal Capital Territory had taken some steps to revamp green areas in the city.

“The existing trees should be protected, the initiative to plant trees in schools is a laudable initiative.

“The green areas must remain green areas. Resident associations, schools, faith based organisations should be encouraged regarding tree planting.

“Everyone deserves access to clean green space in the FCT. Planting a tree is a bold step to protect our future and Abuja should lead by example,” he said

Also speaking, the facilitators of the event, Mrs. Eyamba Nzekwu and Mrs. Nana Gbolahan, said the need to protect the environment motivated them to organise the event.

Nzekwu said that since Abuja was still being developed as a city with a lot of construction going on, trees were being cut down without replacement.

“The onus is on us as residents to improve our well-being by contributing to our environment to start planting trees.

“If you have a tree, the tree has a lot of benefits, it provides shade from the elements.

”If you have trees around your house and there is severe windstorm, the trees act as a wind breaker to break those winds from getting into your premises to destroy your roofs or your property.

“Some trees are even medicinal, a lot of trees are being exported from Africa for their medicinal benefits,” she said.

Gbolahan said that if people continue to cut down trees, the effect would be erosion, desertification, excessive heat and even some other plants would die.

“We need the trees to provide a protective shield for us, Abuja has been very hot and then, you also have an extreme heat that is affecting our plants in the environment.

“We decided to focus on the environment and get more people on board. You don’t just have to get gardeners; you need people that are affected by the climate which is everybody.

“This year, our focus is to plant more trees and we are starting this initiative from schools in the FCT,” she said.

Gbolahan added that the initiative was to complement the efforts of government as well as to get support from the government in their effort too.

The event was attended by garden owners, people who sell natural flowers and other natural foods.

Seedlings were given to those who attended the event to plant and report the progress at the next festival.

By Wandoo Sombo

Why it matters Africa asks its highest court to define climate justice

Michael Simire
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Why it matters Africa asks its highest court to define climate justice

Today (May 2, 2025), in Arusha, Tanzania, just below the ridgeline of Mount Meru and not far from the Kenyan border, Africa will do something it has never done before.

Climate change justice
Climate change justice campaign rally

Civil society leaders from across the continent will walk into the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and formally ask: What are African governments legally obligated to do when the climate crisis threatens food, water, health, and life itself?

This is not a lawsuit. It’s a petition for an advisory opinion, a legal interpretation of how long-standing human rights obligations should apply in the era of climate breakdown. It won’t assign guilt or impose penalties. But it could shape the future of how rights are understood, enforced, and defended across the continent.

And for the first time, this question won’t come from Geneva or The Hague. It will come from Africa itself.

Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions. And yet, it is absorbing some of the heaviest impacts.

More than 61 million people in Southern Africa are facing food insecurity following the region’s worst drought in over a century. In Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, cocoa farmers are losing entire harvests to floods, heat, and fungal disease, threatening over a million livelihoods. In Kenya, 2.6 million livestock have died from prolonged drought, unraveling traditional pastoralist economies. In Chad, over 1.5 million people have been displaced by floods. And in Morocco, the Al Massira Dam has dropped below 6% capacity, prompting widespread job loss and public protest over water scarcity.

Yet despite the scale of the crisis, few climate-related cases have reached the courts across all 54 African nations. According to the Sabin Center’s Global Climate Change Litigation Database, only 19 cases have been filed across five jurisdictions. Together, these cases make up just 9% of climate litigation from the Global South and less than 1% of the global total. The problem isn’t a lack of harm, it’s a lack of legal clarity, institutional support, and investment in the systems that would allow climate justice to be pursued through the courts.

The law, for too long, has remained quiet. This petition seeks to change that.

An advisory opinion won’t create new law. But it will clarify what existing laws mean in a climate-compromised world. It would give judges, lawmakers, and advocates across Africa a shared framework for holding states accountable, not just politically, but legally.

This petition didn’t come from a single institution. It was built over four years of regional organising by the African Climate Platform (ACP), a coalition of over 50 organisations, including public interest lawyers, grassroots leaders, Indigenous communities, youth, and climate defenders.

Together, they developed case studies from across all five African regions, documenting how climate change is already infringing on human rights, from food insecurity in Southern Africa to water shortages in North Africa to displacement in Central Africa. They drew on regional legal instruments like the African Charter, the Maputo Protocol, and the Kampala Convention. And they drafted a legal question with far-reaching consequences: what do states owe their people when climate threats are no longer hypothetical?

That question will be submitted to the African Court in Arusha on May 2.

If the Court agrees to take up the petition and delivers a strong, rights-affirming opinion, it would be a historic turning point. Judges across Africa could cite it. Legislatures could draft from it. Civil society could use it to build strategic litigation that pushes beyond slogans into enforceable rights.

Even if the ruling is narrow, the act of filing the petition is precedent-setting. It’s about whether African citizens, already living through the worst of climate collapse, can rely on their legal systems to respond.

Africa has often been described as the canary in the coal mine. But that metaphor is no longer useful.

Africa is not the warning. Africa is the frontline. And with this petition, it is becoming the legal voice.

On May 2, a continent will ask its own court to define what justice looks like, not just in the language of climate targets and finance pledges, but in the real, everyday rights of people trying to live with heat, hunger, and uncertainty.

This question has waited too long to be asked. Now it’s heading to court.

By Konah Brownell, Research & Policy Fellow at the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership

NOSDRA, CSOs strengthen partnership to enhance environmental response

Michael Simire
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NOSDRA, CSOs strengthen partnership to enhance environmental response

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to partner with civil society organisations (CSOs) to improve environmental response efforts in the Niger Delta.

Idris Musa
Director-General of NOSDRA, Mr Idris Musa

Mr Bello Austine, Zonal Head, NOSDRA, Zonal Office, Port Harcourt, made the remark during an advocacy visit by the CSOs to his office on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Austine emphasised the importance of effective communication and information sharing with stakeholders, saying that it would enhance response to environmental incidents.

He said that the agency would continue to explore ways to inform and engaged relevant stakeholders to sustain the country’s environment.

According to him, the agency had put a lot in place to sustain the country’s environment, as it has to do with the monitoring and protection of the environment and livelihoods.

He said that the agency would study the accuracy and effectiveness of a new environmental monitoring device, donated to it by the Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI), to enhance oil spill management and response efforts.

Austine assured that the agency would partner with CSOs for a better understanding of the monitoring device to ascertain its functions.

“We will invite your organisations to explain more about this device and see if it can be incorporated as one of the effective environmental monitoring tools,’’ he said.

He said that the finding would be communicated to NOSDRA head office for approval if needful.

Austine, however, hoped that partnership with CSOs would consolidate the gains in sustainable environmental management in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, as it was in the agency’s collaboration with Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN).

Earlier, Mr Kentebe Ebiaridor, the Programme Manager, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA), said that the visit to NOSDRA was to reaffirm their commitment to working together and addressing environmental challenges.

Ebiaridor also the Coordinator, Oil Watch International, highlighted the importance of quick response to environmental issues and in strengthening NOSDRA’s capacity to deal with oil spills.

He advocated for a review of the NOSDRA Act to address grey areas that could grant the agency more independence.

He suggested that NOSDRA should have logistical equipment, including speedboats and helicopters, to respond to oil spills in the Niger Delta region without relying on oil companies.

Ebiaridor noted that the NOSDRA’s reliance on oil companies for logistics undermined community trust in the agency’s ability to respond to oil spills impartially.

He commended NOSDRA for its past collaboration with the Environmental Rights Action on joint investigative visits and community sensitisation of oil spills that yielded positive results.

Similarly, Mr Onyekachi Okoro, Executive Director, Media Awareness and Justice Initiative, also called for a collaborative effort with the NOSDRA to enhance environmental monitoring and data collection.

Okoro said that the organisation had developed a device that monitors air quality, temperature, and pressure levels, which could be deployed in various locations to collect data.

Speaking also, Dr Emem Okon, the Executive Director, Kebetkache, emphasised the need for environmental action to protect women in the Niger Delta region.

Okon, represented by Idongesit Umoh-Smart, Programme Officer, Kebetkache, noted that the impact of environmental pollution research carried out on women in the region revealed alarming statistics of the oil activities’ impact on their health.

She said that over 80 per cent of women medically tested in a part of the region had Benzene in their blood system.

She said that some other women were experiencing infertility, early menopause, and other health problems due to environmental pollution.

Okon called for collaborative efforts to address environmental pollution and protection of women health in the Niger Delta region.

She also called for government support in providing medical attention and compensation for women affected by environmental pollution.

The CSOs in attendance include a United States-based NGO, Culturally Rooted Reformations; Lekeh Development Foundation; Rights Advocacy and Development Centre; and Kallop Humanitarian and Environmental Centre, among others

ECOWAS, Ecobank invest in alternative energy solutions empowerment

Michael Simire
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ECOWAS, Ecobank invest in alternative energy solutions empowerment

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with Ecobank Nigeria and the World Bank, have trained no fewer than 100 entrepreneurs in Nigeria on off-grid solar energy system.

This is through a specialised programme focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the off-grid photovoltaic solar energy sector.

This initiative forms part of the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), which seeks to promote the development of a regional market for standalone solar energy systems.

ROGEAP is funded by the World Bank, with additional support from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and the Directorate General of International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Government of the Netherlands.

El Hadji Sylla, Senior Adviser at the ECOWAS Commission’s ROGEAP, disclosed this during a three-day Entrepreneurship Business Training held in Lagos, organised in collaboration with Ecobank.

Sylla, in a statement on Thursday, May 1 2025, noted that the Nigerian SMEs had already benefited from grants totaling $800,000 under the project, aimed at increasing participation in the off-grid solar energy value chain.

He explained that the capacity-building workshops, conducted in both Abuja and Lagos, were designed to enhance the technical and financial capabilities of SMEs focused on solar energy.

He noted that the objective was to better position these businesses for growth and long-term sustainability in the renewable energy sector.

He said that ECOWAS was in discussions with Ecobank Group to establish mechanisms that would allow the bank to offer both technical and financial support to SMEs in the solar energy ecosystem.

He explained that this include extending direct credit lines to eligible businesses.

According to Sylla, the first component of ROGEAP led by the ECOWAS Commission, centred on the creation of a strong regional market for off-grid solar solutions.

He said key strategy involved equipping SMEs with the skills to develop technically sound and financially viable projects that meet commercial lending standards.

“This year, we have worked closely with Ecobank Nigeria to align solar-focused SME portfolios with the bank’s financing requirements.

“Our goal is to ensure that the submitted projects are not only technically feasible but also bankable,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Salamatu Baba Tunwzang, Team Lead at ROGEAP’s Entrepreneurship Support Facilities, emphasised that the programme goes beyond technical training.

She said that participating SMEs were also being prepared to access ROGEAP grants and other funding opportunities.

“When businesses join our network, they gain access to both technical assistance and financial resources.

“We also build the capacity of technical installers, who can equally benefit from these opportunities.

“It is a comprehensive support system they receive funding, technical training, market intelligence, and valuable networking opportunities for collaboration,” she said.

NDDC seeks UN support to accelerate Niger Delta development

Michael Simire
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NDDC seeks UN support to accelerate Niger Delta development

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.

Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.

He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.

“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.

Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of potable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.

He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.

“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.

“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.

The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.

Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.

In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.

He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.

“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.

“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.

He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.

WaterAid, stakeholders collaborate to address climate change resilience

Michael Simire
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WaterAid, stakeholders collaborate to address climate change resilience

WaterAid, says it is collaborating with other stakeholders to strengthen climate resilience in Nigeria.

Evelyn Mere
Evelyn Mere, WaterAid Nigeria Country Director

Evelyn Mere, WaterAid Country Director, made this known at the Second Annual Climate Change Conference held in Abuja.

Mere, who was who was represented by Kolawole Banwo, Head of Advocacy, Policy, and Communications, WaterAid, said that the impacts of flooding, drought, and saline intrusion on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services have affected public health and economic growth.

The conference, themed “Strengthening Policies and Investments for Climate-Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Services,” aimed to highlight the urgent need for resilient infrastructure and collaborative action.

“WASH is not just about building stronger infrastructure but ensuring that services anticipate, respond to, cope with, recover from, and adapt to climate-related events.

“One of the objectives of this conference is to bring all stakeholders together to discuss, facilitate, and unlock the required funding needed to build the resilience of WASH facilities to climate change,” Mere said.

She emphasised that communities, especially vulnerable ones, must continue to enjoy sustainable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services despite the changing climate.

“All stakeholders need to build a common front, share information, jointly conduct research, identify needs and gaps, and collectively work out solutions that everyone can support,” she added.

Mere further noted that collaboration among stakeholders would ensure cohesive and coherent planning, programming, and interventions to make WASH infrastructure resilient to climate change and its impacts.

Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, highlighted the intersection of climate change and WASH as a major concern, noting that climate change poses significant threats to these essential services.

He said Nigeria is among the ten most vulnerable countries globally, experiencing severe impacts from climate change and natural hazards.

“Nigeria is highly exposed to climate and environmental hazards such as air pollution, coastal flooding, and desertification, all of which affect water quantity and quality,” he said.

Pheelangwah noted that many communities are still at risk of waterborne diseases, inadequate sanitation, and compromised hygiene practices.

He stressed that the low level of water availability and access to safe water has serious implications for health, education, nutrition, safety, and the overall well-being of the population.

He also announced that the Ministry, in collaboration with UNICEF, would produce a climate rationale for WASH services in Nigeria, aimed at identifying various categories of climate risks.

Mrs. Ngozi Abohwo, Director of Hydrology at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, also emphasised the impact of climate change on WASH infrastructure and service delivery.

“There is a need to strengthen our policies and investments to make WASH infrastructure more resilient to the impacts of climate change,” she stated.

She appreciated the support from WaterAid and other stakeholders and called for continued collaboration towards achieving climate change resilience.

By Akpan Glory

Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway 70% completed, January 2026 delivery expected – Umahi

Michael Simire
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0
Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway 70% completed, January 2026 delivery expected – Umahi

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction will be completed in January 2026, the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has said.

Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi (second from left), during inspection of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project on Wednesday

Umahi made the disclosure during an inspection tour of the highway on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

“We came to review the project with the financial promoters – Dutch Bank and Development Bank of Southern Africa,” he said.

He said it was projected that 20km of the road (from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos) would have been completed by May.

“We are going to surpass the 20km from this site,” he said.

Umahi said that more than 70 per cent of the entire project had been done.

“Let me state that this project is over 70 per cent done, and the contractor has not got funds up to 70 per cent.

“That is why I call them people that have set their minds towards nation-building rather than making money.”

According to him, along the corridor, there are some lands that have been acquired for tourism, industries, factories and housing estates.

“These are the road architecture that you are going to receive on this highway.

“I assure you that, by January next year, God willing, we have this road completed,” the minister said.

He said that the financial promoters of the highway were satisfied with the work progress, quality, method statemen, and every other thing about the project.

He praised the contractor handling the project, Hitech Construction Company, for efforts.

“The road is exceptionally technically well-designed.

“The concrete thickness is designed for 275 millimetres but what they are doing is 280 millimetres.

“I commend also the department in charge of this project – the Department of Bridge and Roads, and, of course, the controller of works in Lagos,” he said.

Umahi said that the greatest worry he could have would be motorists joining the highway ‘from their houses’.

“It is going to be a very serious issue; so, we have to design a barrier.

“I know that you are putting a retaining wall but you have not incorporated a retaining wall all through.”

Umahi said that, as a superhighway, it would be expected that motorists would join it at flyovers and interchanges to avoid gridlock.

By Lydia Chigozie-Ngwakwe

Oman: TotalEnergies, OQEP break ground at Marsa LNG

Michael Simire
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0
Oman: TotalEnergies, OQEP break ground at Marsa LNG

Under the patronage of Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy & Minerals of the Sultanate of Oman, Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, and Ahmed Al Azkawi, OQ Exploration and Production CEO, celebrated the ground-breaking of the Marsa LNG plant, in the port of Sohar, northern Oman, one year after the Final Investment Decision.

TotalEnergies
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies (right), with Oman and OQEP officials celebrate the ground-breaking of the Marsa LNG plant

The 1 million ton per year (Mt/y) liquefaction plant is being built by Marsa LNG LLC, a joint company between TotalEnergies (80%) and OQEP (20%). The LNG production, which is expected to start in the first quarter of 2028, is primarily intended to serve the marine fuel market (LNG bunkering) in the Gulf.

One of the lowest carbon intensity LNG plants in the world

The Marsa LNG plant is fully electrified and combined with a 300 megawatt-peak (MWp) photovoltaic solar farm that will supply the equivalent of the plant’s annual energy needs. Marsa LNG will therefore be one of the lowest carbon intensity LNG plants in the world, with less than 3 kg CO2e/boe of scope 1 and 2 emissions. For reference, this is 90% lower than the average carbon intensity of LNG plants in the world, which stands around 35 kg CO2e/boe.

The first marine LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East

Ideally located at the entrance to the Gulf, the Marsa LNG site has been selected to establish the first LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East.

A charter contract for a new LNG bunkering vessel has been signed by Marsa LNG LLC. This vessel, named Monte Shams in reference to the Jabal Shams or the “Mountain of the Sun” in north-eastern Oman, is under construction and will be stationed in Sohar from 2028, where it will supply LNG to a wide range of vessels (container ships, tankers, large cruise ships).

In the maritime industry, LNG is an immediately available transition fuel allowing a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 20% compared to fuel oil. Ships using LNG in Sohar, will further reduce their GHG emissions thanks to the low carbon intensity of the LNG production in Marsa LNG, and local bunkering without the need to transport LNG to a distant bunkering port.

Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, said: “I’m very proud to see Marsa LNG breaking ground, alongside our longstanding partner OQEP, and with the strong support from the Sultanate’s authorities. This flagship project demonstrates that LNG production can be very low carbon, contributing to making gas a long-term transition fuel.

“With an ambitious technical design, we intend to set the standard and pave the way for the next generation of low-emissions LNG plants across the world. We also offer an effective way to support the shipping sector’s energy transition, by providing lower-emissions marine fuel in a key location at the entrance of the Gulf.” 

Commenting on the groundbreaking of Marsa LNG, Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, stated: “The Ministry reiterates its steadfast commitment to supporting downstream energy projects as a vital pillar of economic integration across the industrial, trade, port, and logistics sectors. The Marsa LNG project, a strategic collaboration project between OQ Exploration & Production and TotalEnergies, embodies this commitment by developing advanced infrastructure for supplying vessels with LNG as an alternative clean fuel.

“This project marks a significant step in advancing low-emission energy solutions, reinforcing Oman’s position as a reliable regional hub for clean maritime fuel. It aligns with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, particularly in sustainability and industrial innovation. Additionally, it underscores our dedication to providing responsible energy solutions for the global shipping sector while actively reducing its carbon footprint.

“While we welcome this pioneering partnership, we affirm that investment in downstream energy projects is a key driver of economic growth, creating quality, sustainable job opportunities, facilitating knowledge transfer, and developing national expertise, all of which strengthen Oman’s readiness to meet the growing demand for sustainable energy sources.”

Ahmed Al Azkawi, CEO of OQEP, said: “At OQEP, we are committed to driving innovation and sustainability in Oman’s energy landscape. The Marsa LNG project represents a solid step forward, harnessing cutting-edge technology and strategic collaboration to ensure a cleaner, and affordable energy future. As the first LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East, Marsa LNG will play a pivotal role in reducing emissions in the shipping industry while reinforcing Oman’s position as a key player in the global energy sector. We take immense pride in contributing to this transformative journey – one that sets new standards for low-carbon energy solutions.” 

Expert demands full implementation of PIA in Niger Delta oil communities

Michael Simire
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Expert demands full implementation of PIA in Niger Delta oil communities

An expert in Natural Resource Governance, Dr Mike Uzoigwe, has called for the full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for the development of oil communities in the Niger Delta.

PIA
Participants at the one-day training for communities under the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) of the Petroleum Industry Act, held in Port Harcourt on Wednesday

Uzoigwe made the appeal during a training for community representatives under the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT), held in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

He noted that five years after the PIA was enacted, funding under the HCDT framework for member communities had yet to be fully implemented.

He attributed the slow pace of implementation to oil companies’ failure to remit funds, ongoing litigations, internal community disputes, and regulatory challenges, among other factors.

According to him, these challenges have made it difficult to properly assess the effectiveness of HCDT implementation in host communities.

Uzoigwe also expressed concern that several communities were yet to establish HCDTs, which are essential for accessing funds designated for local development.

“Fortunately, there are communities that have successfully leveraged the HCDT to advance development in their localities.

“However, we want every host community to access these funds to accelerate development in their respective areas and contribute to the broader transformation of the Niger Delta,” he added.

Uzoigwe urged host communities to familiarise themselves with the provisions and regulations of the PIA to enable them to fully benefit from the Act.

Also speaking, Dr Emem Okon, Executive Director of Kebetkache Development and Resource Centre, explained that the training was organised for HCDT communities in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, and Rivers states.

According to her, the objective of the training was to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the PIA’s provisions, conduct needs assessments and undertake community development planning.

“We examined how the HCDT can be made effective and efficient in utilising the three per cent operational cost allocation for community development projects, as stipulated in the PIA.

“This allocation is structured as follows: 75 per cent for project execution, 20 per cent for savings, and five per cent for administrative costs.

“HCDT members are responsible for identifying and prioritising community needs through a transparent, sincere, and people-centred decision-making process in managing these funds,” Okon explained.

She encouraged host communities to engage actively with various stakeholders, including women, youth, farmers, and community leaders, to identify development projects that reflect the genuine needs of their communities.

By Desmond Ejibas

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