A climate activist, Ms. Gloria Bulus, founder and Executive Director of Bridge That Gap Initiative, an NGO, has been conferred with the traditional title of “Jakadiyan Climate Kudenden”, in Kaduna.
Gloria Kasang Bulus
The title, which means “Climate Ambassador”, was conferred on Bulus by Chief Gabriel Galadima, Chief of Kudenden, Gwagwada District, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Mr. David Chabsen, Council Secretary announced the conferment in a letter, made available in Abuja on Monday, January 6, 2025.
Chabsen said the conferment was due to Bulu’s service to humanity, especially about climate change.
He said that the date for the official turbanning would be announced in due course.
Reacting to the development, Bulus, who is also the Coordinator of the Network of Civil Society in Environment, expressed joy at the recognition.
“This recognition highlights the importance of climate advocacy and strengthens my commitment to promoting sustainable practices within our communities.
“For years, some of my friends have affectionately called me the ‘Green Queen’ or ‘Climate Queen’. My journey has been filled with encouragement.
“About five years ago, a friend even gave me the name ‘Jakadiyan Climate’ and has been waiting confidently for it to become a reality.
“His unwavering belief that this moment would come has made the announcement of the title on Jan. 4 even more special,” she said.
She thanked Galadima for the honour which she described as “prestigious”.
“Indeed, this is an incredible honour. I am excited about the upcoming turbaning ceremony and the opportunities it will bring to further strengthen our collective efforts toward a sustainable future,” she said.
Bulus expressed commitment to collaborate more with local leaders and organisations to address critical issues surrounding climate change and to enhance community’s resilience.
Bulus, a Nigerian climate change activist, had in 2020 bagged the Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award from former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore.
The Green Ring Award is presented to outstanding Climate Reality Leaders who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to their role as climate communicators and activists.
“This award is the highest honour given by the Climate Reality Project.
“It is a result of my commitment as a climate educator, advocate, and activist,” she said.
The Port Harcourt Refinery commenced operations and its first truck-out of petroleum products on Nov. 26, 2024, in view of the re-streaming of the rehabilitated facility.
Port Harcourt Refinery
The refinery is managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) through the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC).
The truck-out signaled the commencement of crude oil processing from the plant and delivery of petroleum products to the market after years of dependence on imported products after government owned refineries became moribund.
Located at Alesa Eleme area of the garden city, with refining capacity of 210,000 barrels per day (bpd), the refinery comprises two operational units which were established in 1965 and 1989.
The rehabilitated old refinery is currently operating at 90 per cent of its installed 60,000 bpd capacity, refining Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), known as petrol, Household Kerosene (HHK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), known as diesel, among others.
The resumption of the refinery after it had achieved its mechanical completion and flare start-up in 2023, followed scepticism and criticisms from some critics.
Some stakeholders, like oil marketers and the society of engineers, had also toured the refinery and confirmed its functionality.
On Sept. 15, the 650,000-bpd capacity Dangote refinery, which commenced operation in 2023, began the supply of PMS from its gantries to marketers, with many agreements signed with marketers for supply consistency and affordability.
On Dec. 30, the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) in Delta, managed by the NNPC Ltd., also commenced operations after years of being moribund.
The 125,000 bpd Warri refinery, which was commissioned in 1978, had been shut down for rehabilitation in 2021 with Daewoo Engineering as the EPC contractor.
The refinery, which is currently operating at 60 per cent of installed capacity, resumed operations after the NNPC Ltd. restarted the 60,000-bpd old Port Harcourt refinery in November.
It is currently processing 75,000 bpd, which translates to 60 per cent of installed capacity, and produces 2.9 million litres of diesel, 1.9 million litres of kerosene and 4.9 million litres of fuel oil.
The production of PMS, according to the NNPC Ltd., will follow in the days ahead as other units of the refinery come on stream.
The coming on board of the refineries had spurred competition in the deregulated sector, and Nigerians expect the price of petroleum products coming down considerably as a result of this.
Recently, Dangote refinery reduced the ex-depot price of PMS from N970 per litre to N899.50 per litre.
The refinery signed a partnership with MRS Oil Nigeria Plc to sell at N935 per litre nationwide; while the NNPC Ltd. announced reduction in its ex-depot price from N1,020 per litre to N899 per litre.
This move, which had stimulated downstream sector competition, and aimed at responding to the competitive dynamics and impacts of deregulation, was also lauded by the oil marketers and experts.
Meanwhile, some stakeholders have urged the Federal Government to privatise the state-owned refineries, including the Warri and Kaduna refineries, as part of its broader reforms to enhance transparency, competition, and operational efficiency in the downstream petroleum sector.
The presidency had, in 2024, announced plans for the complete privatisation of the state-owned refineries for local oil refining and production to peak steadily.
Dr Maurice Ibe, an Oil and Gas Industry Consultant, said that the privatisation of the refineries would enhance the efficient operation of the refineries, promote healthy competition and create a level playing field in the industry.
Ibe, a Consultant to the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), said that the NNPC Ltd. had clearly demonstrated lack of capacity to efficiently run and maintain the refineries.
According to him, placing the refineries in private hands will greatly improve the productivity of Nigeria’s oil economy.
He said that without effective and functional refining system, Nigerians would never see a reasonable drop in petroleum prices soon.
“Though the Port Harcourt Refinery is functional, it is not producing at full capacity to have the level of impact that it should have on pump prices.
“Until the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries start working optimally and producing at full capacity for independent marketers to load, the country will still be dependent on Dangote refinery,” he said.
While highlighting some basic parameters for measuring the functionality of refineries, he said that a functional refinery must have the capacity to load at least 200 trucks of 50,000 litres of petrol daily.
“Irrespective of what the NNPC Ltd. and dignitaries are saying concerning the refinery, the fact remains that the basic yardstick to measure the success or productivity of the state-owned refineries is still lacking.
“There have been loading from the refinery but it has not loaded more than 10 trucks daily since it resumed. I have my members on ground.
“No matter what it loads, if the IPMAN has not started loading, you can not make an impact nationwide,’’ he said.
An Economist, Dr Chijioke Ekechukwu, said that the coming on stream of more functional refineries in the country was expected to crash the prices of petroleum products.
Ekechukwu said that there would be free market economy with more innovations.
“Free market economy means that there should be free entry and free exit. It also brings competition and prices of goods and services lower.
“With the Dangote, Port Harcourt Warri, and other modular refineries coming on stream, we are better for it as a country and as an economy.
“The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will also be enhanced, while more employments would be created,” he said.
Dr Billy Gillis-Harry, National President, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), advocated for the privatisation of government-owned refineries to reputable private companies.
Gillis-Harry said that such a move would improve efficiency and reduce government expenditure.
He said that it would foster a competitive market and encourage new entrants to eliminate monopolies, ensure fair pricing, and enhance regulatory compliance through a robust monitoring framework.
He called for the establishment of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track the performance of downstream operators and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
“There should be continuous investment in critical infrastructure and preventive maintenance, such as refineries, pipelines, and storage facilities, to improve the country’s refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.
“Development of local content by supporting indigenous companies and providing incentives for research and development in the downstream sector should be encouraged.
“Private sector participation should be encouraged to increase access to funding and expertise. Regulatory frameworks should be reviewed to reduce operational costs and attract investment,” he said.
To boost Nigeria’s refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products, he recommended that crude oil should be made available for local refineries.
Speaking on the downstream competition, he said that the prices of the Dangote Refinery were initially competitive, putting pressure on the NNPC Limited to review its pricing strategy.
According to him, this competition will ultimately benefited consumers, who enjoyed relatively stable and lower prices for petroleum products.
By Emmanuella Anokam, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Nigeria faces a significant and escalating crisis of hunger and poverty, driven by a combination of economic challenges, conflict, climate change, and inadequate agricultural production. As of 2025, it is projected that 33.1 million Nigerians will experience acute food insecurity, a stark increase from 25 million in previous assessments.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari
This represents an alarming rise of 7 million people from the previous year due to factors such as economic hardship and climate shocks. Approximately 5.4 million children and 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are at risk of acute malnutrition. Of these, about 1.8 million children could face Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), requiring urgent nutritional intervention.
The northeastern states – particularly Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe – are the most affected, with 4.4 million food insecure individuals residing in this region alone. The country has been grappling with record high inflation rates, reaching 40.9% for food items, which exacerbates the affordability crisis for necessities. Ongoing violence and insecurity across the country further complicates food security efforts; the conflict and attacks has severely disrupted agricultural activities, leading to reduced food production. Aside the insecurity, Nigeria is highly vulnerable to periodic droughts and floods that adversely affect agricultural output. These climatic events have increased vulnerability among rural populations who rely heavily on subsistence farming.
The relationship between poverty and hunger in Nigeria has deep historical roots. Despite being rich in resources, successive governments have struggled to provide adequate food security for its citizens. A historical review indicates that poverty rates have increased significantly over the decades; for instance, the proportion of Nigerians living below the poverty line rose from 27% in 1980 to 70% in 1999, reflecting systemic issues in governance and resource management. Looking ahead, the situation is expected to worsen if immediate interventions are not implemented. The World Food Programme (WFP) warns that without urgent support, Nigeria may face unprecedented levels of hunger by mid-2025, particularly during the lean season when food availability typically declines,
The role of the budget in addressing hunger and poverty in Nigeria is crucial, as it directs financial resources towards key sectors that can alleviate these issues. The 2025 budget proposed by President Bola Tinubu is designed to tackle inflation, improve food security, and support agricultural productivity, which are essential for combating hunger and poverty.
On December 18, 2024, the President presented the 2025 Budget – a record N49.74 trillion, a 41.9% increase from the previous year. Dubbed “The Restoration Budget: Securing peace, Rebuilding prosperity”. 33% of the total proposed budget (NGN16.32 trillion) will be used to service loans and debts, 28% will be used for recurrent expenditure like personnel cost and overheads in running the government, 30% will go into administrative and public capital projects and programs, while 9% are for statutory expenses.
The 2025 budget for the agricultural sector in Nigeria has raised significant concerns regarding its adequacy and effectiveness in addressing the pressing issues of food security, inflation, and rural poverty. The 2025 agricultural budget reflects a concerning trend of underinvestment in a sector critical for national food security and economic stability. The allocations are insufficient given the challenges posed by inflation, insecurity, and rural poverty.
The proposed agricultural budget for 2025 is alarmingly low, constituting only 1.28% of the total Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) budget. This allocation is below the Maputo Declaration target, which advocates for a minimum of 10% of national budgets to be dedicated to agriculture. This leaves a gap of ₦4.33 trillion between the actual allocation and the ideal level of funding required to meet international benchmarks.
The sum of NGN636.08 billion was budgeted for the sector in 2025, a far drop from the sector allocation in 2024. In 2024, a total of NGN996.9 billion was allocated to the sector, in 2023 the sector got NGN626.99 billion and NGN462.19 billion in 2022.
With inflation rising as high as over 30% in 2024, the real value of the budget allocation to the sector would have dropped to approximately – NGN616.99 billion (loosing over NGN19.1 billion due to inflationary pressure) should inflation persist and refuse to drop to the target of 15% as optimistically speculated. President Tinubu aims to reduce inflation from 34.6% to 15% and improve the exchange rate from approximately ₦1,700 to ₦1,500 per US dollar by 2025.
However, these goals are contingent upon increasing food supply and agricultural production to alleviate high food imports that pressure the Naira’s value. However, the current agriculture budget lacks the scale and strategic focus needed to drive such transformations. The current state of food inflation is alarming and poses a direct threat to achieving these economic goals. Without significant improvements in agricultural output and security measures, it is unlikely that these targets can be met.
More than often over 70% of the allocations are for capital expenditure – not necessarily in food production alone or mechanisation of food value chain, but also most a fraction of capital allocation on administrative capitals such as renovation, construction and supplies administrative capitals i.e. buildings and office vehicles, etc.
Per Capita Spending: With over 230 million Nigerians, if the entire agricultural budget were allocated solely for food production, it would amount to approximately ₦2,725.96 per person for the year. When considering capital expenditure, this figure drops to around ₦2,060.17 per Nigerian, indicating insufficient funding for essential agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilisers, and machinery.
Rural Population Impact: Given that the rural population of 109 million people and more – who are primarily engaged in agriculture – comprises about 45-47% of the total national population, their share of the agricultural budget would be roughly ₦5,800 per person, with capital expenditure contributing approximately ₦4,383. This level of funding is inadequate to meet their needs or to stimulate meaningful agricultural growth.
The persistent insecurity in rural areas, where most farming occurs, continues to hinder agricultural productivity. Without robust unbiased law enforcement and justice mechanisms to combat violence against all Nigerians, hunger will continue to be a significant issue. Security agencies must be fully empowered and supported to combat all forms of insecurity, while justice must be impartial and thorough in holding sponsors, perpetrators, and enablers of violence accountable. Until farms become safe, hunger and food insecurity will persist, undermining broader economic progress.
Agriculture Sector Budget Allocation, Releases, and Utilisation – The agriculture sector in Nigeria has shown a consistent pattern of underperformance in terms of budget allocation utilisation and fund releases. A closer examination of quarterly data reveals significant inefficiencies that hinder the sector’s capacity to deliver on its goals of boosting food production and economic growth.
In Q2 2022, ₦386.65 billion was allocated for capital expenditure, but only ₦36.6 billion (9.46% of the allocation) was released, with a utilisation of ₦8.34 billion. This translated to just 2.16% of the allocation being utilised and 22.79% of the released funds effectively applied. These figures highlight severe inefficiencies in the disbursement and utilisation of allocated funds during this period. However, in Q4 2022, there was a significant improvement, with ₦102.49 billion allocated and ₦236.43 billion released. Utilisation during this quarter reached ₦209.07 billion, equating to an impressive 203.98% of the allocation utilised and 88.43% of the released funds. This exceptional performance indicates that when the sector receives adequate resources and addresses implementation bottlenecks, it can achieve substantial results.
The trend shifted again in 2023, with mixed outcomes. For instance, in Q2 2023, ₦341.57 billion was allocated, but only ₦48.12 billion (14.09% of the allocation) was released, with a utilisation of ₦9.54 billion. This resulted in 2.79% of the allocation being utilised and just 19.83% of released funds applied. While Q3 2023 showed improvement, with ₦341.57 billion allocated and ₦128.24 billion released, utilisation reached ₦109.89 billion, reflecting 32.17% of the allocation utilised and 85.69% of released funds applied.
This progress underscores the potential for better performance when releases are timely and adequate. However, in Q4 2023, despite ₦409.27 billion being allocated and ₦321.26 billion released, utilisation fell to ₦56.95 billion. This equated to just 13.92% of the allocation and 17.73% of released funds, signifying inefficiencies and delays in fund application.
In 2024, the allocation for agriculture increased significantly to ₦886.65 billion in Q2, but no data is available on releases or utilisation for that period. This lack of transparency raises concerns about whether the sector can manage larger allocations effectively.
The data reveals a troubling trend of low utilisation rates across most quarters, often below 15% of allocations, except for notable exceptions like Q4 2022 and Q3 2023. This poor performance stems from inefficiencies in planning, disbursement delays, and weak project implementation. Inconsistent release patterns further exacerbate the problem, with some quarters receiving releases exceeding allocations, as seen in Q4 2022, likely due to carryovers or additional funding.
These challenges have far-reaching implications. Low utilisation rates hinder the sector’s ability to address critical issues such as food security, inflation, and import dependency. They also highlight systemic governance issues, including weak planning, lack of accountability, and delays in fund disbursement, which collectively undermine the sector’s potential.
To address these issues, several recommendations are crucial. First, fund disbursement timelines should align with the agricultural calendar to ensure timely implementation of projects. Second, mechanisms for planning, monitoring, and implementing agricultural initiatives need to be strengthened to improve utilisation. Third, transparency and accountability in fund management should be enhanced through better oversight.
Accountability and Transparency Challenges in the Management of Public Finance: Beyond the poor utilisation rates, the Ministry of Agriculture, like many Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria, faces a critical lack of accountability and transparency in managing public finances. The absence of project reporting for core programmes and initiatives is a glaring gap within the Ministry. This issue is not isolated to the Ministry of Agriculture but reflects a systemic trend across most MDAs.
Key agencies such as the Budget and National Planning Ministry, the Accountant General of the Federation, and the Auditor General of the Federation have shown a concerning level of complacency in ensuring open budgets, operational reporting, and public access to the actual expenditures and financial accounts of these MDAs. This lack of oversight perpetuates inefficiencies, waste, and mismanagement in the utilisation of public funds.
For example, while Nigerians continue to grapple with the dual challenges of climate change and pest-related agricultural losses, substantial budgetary allocations are directed toward pest control programmes under the Ministry of Agriculture and its Quarantine Agencies. Despite these allocations running into billions of naira, there is little to no evidence of tangible results or progress reports on how these funds are utilised. This lack of transparency creates a disconnect between allocated resources and actual outcomes, leaving the public in the dark regarding the effectiveness of these programmes.
This culture of non-reporting and minimal accountability undermines public trust in the government’s capacity to address critical national issues. It also raises concerns about the alignment of budgetary priorities with national needs, especially in sectors like agriculture, where addressing food security and mitigating the impacts of climate change are paramount.
To address these challenges, there is an urgent need for the following actions:
Institutionalising Open Budget Processes: MDAs must adopt open budgeting practices that allow for public scrutiny and participation from planning to implementation stages.
Mandatory Project Reporting: Every ministry, department, and agency should provide detailed, periodic reports on programme activities, fund utilisation, and measurable outcomes.
Strengthening Oversight Bodies: The Budget and National Planning Ministry, the Accountant General, and the Auditor General must enforce compliance with projects, programme and financial transparency standards, ensuring that MDAs report their expenditures and projects openly and regularly.
Public Access to Financial Data: Citizens and civil society organisations should have access to financial records and reports to independently verify how public funds are spent.
Performance-Based Monitoring: Introduce mechanisms to tie funding to project performance, ensuring that allocated funds yield measurable results that align with stated objectives.
Clarity on Specialised Allocations: For critical sectors like agriculture, there must be clear communication of outputs for funds allocated to specialised programmes, such as pest control, with verifiable data on impact and progress.
These reforms are crucial not only to improve financial management and project implementation but also to restore public confidence in the government’s ability to address pressing national challenges effectively. Without accountability and transparency, the goals of achieving food security, tackling climate change, and promoting sustainable development will remain elusive.
Finally, state governments should complement federal allocations and improve their contributions to fund usage, ensuring a coordinated effort to boost agricultural productivity. Additionally, state governments and local communities should prioritise the establishment of robust security and vigilance services to combat and eliminate all insecurity threats and perpetrators. This collective effort is essential to reclaiming and safeguarding our homes and country, ensuring that farmers can operate safely and productively. By addressing these gaps, Nigeria’s agriculture sector can maximise the impact of its budget allocations, improve food security, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
As part of their 2024 reunion celebrations, the class of 1995 of Pope John Paul II Seminary, Okpoma, in Cross River State, donated some funds to the St. Joseph’s Centre for the Visually Handicapped, Obudu, to help the students realise their dreams.
At the 2024 Biennial Reunion of the Class of 95 Old Boys Alumni Association in Obudu, Cross River State
Additionally, the group also gave prizes to five individuals, including Rev. Fr. Dr. Josephat Ekor, the rector of the school, for their impact and discipline in shaping each of them into the individuals they are today.
When asked what motivated him to lead his team to the centre on Sunday, December 29, 2024, in Cross River State, Comrade Etalong Emmanuel Etalong, the class president, stated: “We thought it wise that, as a class, God has blessed us, and it is only normal to reach out to people around us.”
Using the Dead Sea as an example to buttress his statement, which only receives water from its main tributary, the Jordan River, and has no outlet, the leader revealed that the cash donation was only a token for the time being, and that if God blesses the class, “we hope to do even more, either collectively or as individuals, to support the centre.”
Receiving the group on behalf of the centre’s head, Reverend Sister Victoria Onoja expressed her admiration for the class members.
“If I were to say the truth,” the nun from the Congregation of the Poor Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (PHJC) added with a heartwarming smile, “I feel happy and jealous too.”
She went on to say that she was overjoyed by the group’s love and unity, but also envious since she wished her class could emulate this wonderful gesture and do something similar.
About the visually handicapped
According to Sister Victoria, the students dislike hearing the word “visually impaired” because they can read, play instruments, and do everything on their own without any assistance, often outperforming the sighted or the physically healthy.
“That is the miracle I saw when I came here; you can see the power of God even in disability,” she said.
The students, she continued, were making every effort to the best of her knowledge and could accomplish any life goal they set. This reality was confirmed by the recently concluded school exam, in which visually impaired pupils performed better than the sighted in all classes. The state’s third-best student in the most recent West African Examination Council (WAEC) is also physically challenged and is on a scholarship to study abroad.
“There is still hope for them to achieve whatever they want in life; they can,” she believed, urging the visitors to bring any handicapped person they come across in their various places to the centre for attention and care.
Award ceremony
One of the recipients, Rev. Fr. Dr. Josephat Ekor, rector of Pope John Paul II Seminary, described the gesture as a “positive surprise” because it was incredibly gracious and made him realise that “discipline and hard work pay.”
According to the Catholic priest, the discipline is precisely what has shaped each of the class associates into the people they are now, adding that he is always very happy whenever he sees his former students of John Paul II seminary come together, especially the class of 95, which has actually made an impression on him.
“I want to say this here not because you are gathering for your biennial reunion, but I am saying it because it is true.
“Since I came into John Paul as a rector, after I left as a dean, the class that has actually made an impression, not just because of the pledge of N500,000 you made in 2021, but it is the level of your connectedness. You have made a massive impression on me, and I will never forget it,” Fr. Ekor stated.
The rector praised the class for their togetherness, which he said was producing many fruits, emphasising that if the school can have two or three additional classes organise themselves in the same way as the class of 95 is doing, the school alumni association will be very strong.
“You may not know it yourself, but you need an external body from your group to tell you how productive this class has always been and will continue to be,” he asserts.
As a result, the impressed clergy exhorted the group not to give up, to keep the team spirit alive, and to make the class as unique as ever, because it takes a lot of sacrifices to ensure that this works.
“Our people say, when spiders connect, they can tie up a lion. This unity is quite impressive, and I will call on other classes to emulate your level of unity,” he concluded.
The class president, Comrade Etalong Emmanuel Etalong; the treasurer, Uchenna Francis; Emmanuel Uzowuru; and Julius Agada, a former economics and commerce instructor, were the other beneficiaries of prizes. The class also had the chance to play a football game, have church Thanksgiving, receive a lecture on leadership, and have her Annual General Meeting (AGM) during this noble event.
Conclusion
In response to his feeling over the entire programme, Rev. Fr. Humphrey Uche Udechukwu, the chairman of the 2024 reunion planning committee and parish priest of St. Charles Catholic Church, Odudu, said he is satisfied that everyone is happy.
Man, in his humble view, is only a custodian of earthly wealth, which God has bestowed upon the class as an opportunity to reach out.
“When people are happy because of you, you will count yourself blessed. So, I am happy that all of us are happy,” he told the interviewer in front of his guests, who were extremely proud of his conduct as a Catholic priest.
An agricultural expert, Mr. Titilayo Adebanjo, has called on the Federal Government to revive “Operation Feed the Nation” to boost food sufficiency and supply chain across the country.
Adebanjo made the call in an interview on Sunday, January 5, 2025, in Epe, Lagos.
Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
He said that, if all states across the country go into agriculture, especially food production, It would boost food availability in the market and eventually lead to price reduction.
Adebanjo noted that a robust agricultural sector was fundamental to national development.
“Operation feed the Nation” was one of the agricultural policy thrusts of the administration of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo during his tenure as military head of state.
According to Adebanjo, prioritising farming remains a key strategy towards achieving food security in the country.
He maintained that increased investment in agriculture was critical in ensuring that citizens have access to affordable food items.
The agriculture expert stressed the need for all states in the country to embrace farming so as to become self sufficient in food production.
He added that this approach and intervention would not only enhance food security, but also contribute to stabilising food prices across the nation.
“It is logical that if every state in the country takes farming seriously and produces food to meet the needs of its citizens, it will significantly reduce the cost of food in the market.
“An increase in food supply will naturally lead to lower prices, making food more affordable for the average Nigerians,” he said.
Adebanjo urged the government to create the needed enabling environment for farmers by providing incentives such as; access to land, low-interest loans, and modern farming equipment.
He explained that these measures would motivate more individuals to venture into agriculture and increase productivity.
The expert also called for the promotion of agricultural education and training programmes to equip farmers with modern techniques and knowledge.
“This will enhance efficiency in food production and improve the quality of agricultural outputs, ” he said.
Adebanjo called on all tiers of government to act swiftly in implementing policies that would transform farming into a sustainable solution for food security in the country.
The Lagos State Commissioner For Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, on Sunday, January 5, 2025, tasked all the state agencies to be up and about to ensure a cleaner environment in 2025.
Wahab made this known while speaking with journalists after an inspection tour of the ongoing projects and new ones in Lagos Island and its environs to kick start the activities for the year.
Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab
He also advised lagosians and residents to take ownership of the infrastructures provided by the government.
“We shall continue to help our people and show them reasons why they can’t keep behaving this way and expect a different result.
“We have provided infrastructure but the humans must take ownership of those infrastructures and that is what this year is going to be about.
“On our part, we must also take ownership of those responsibilities that have been given to us.
“All our agencies must be out there to do the work. Not just the Lagos State Waste Management Authority or the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, or LASPARK,” he said.
On the inspection tour, Wahab who was delighted about the extent of the work, said the ministry would continue to ensure a cleaner environment for the state.
“Today was just to assess and review what the governor had approved. This should be our fifth time of coming to Lagos Island in the past one year, four months.
“We saw the level of degradation. But if you press men will be fair to government, there was an infrastructure that was built by Julius Berger.
“The infrastructure was properly done, road networked with proper drainage and walkway, but human bad behavior over time clocked the system.
“So, what the governor had done is re-award the whole of Lagos Island road infrastructure, drainage infrastructure that was awarded last year so we have come to see to be sure the contractors are fully ready and are on site,” Wahab said.
He said that was the reason for the inspection and to ensure the contractors were doing the work as required.
“We have come to inspect and our response is prompt. What I told the engineers and the permanent secretaries is that we should find a way to appeal to the contractors.
“We can appeal to them to bridge the time from 24 months to maybe 18 or even 15 or 16 months and then prioritise some of those critical collectors like the one around the Ojogiwa Adeniji that would discharge and come towards Ilubinrin.
“We can’t drop the ball, we can’t wait for the rains to come on us, we have to start working from day one and that’s what we are doing.
“So, assessment is fine, contractors mobilised and then within us we have a working group to put them on their toes,” he said.
While talking about Ilubinrin, the commissioner said that the project going on there was critical to what the ministry was doing in Lagos Island.
“This is the most critical infrastructure to what we are doing inside Lagos Island. Now, we have been here several times. But for me, today is one of my happiest moments coming here.
“It is ready. They will energise this place within the next 10 days or thereabout.
“Once it’s energised, you see the infrastructure in place. These three big pumps are ready to go. The 1000 KVA generators are there. The system is ready.
“Transformers are in place dedicated for this project. Now, everything we are doing in Lagos Island will still have to come through this place, and this will now discharge it into the lagoon.
“So, that’s why it is so critical to what we are providing for them in Lagos Island and we thank everyone for being patient with us,” he said.
Wahab said that there would be an increased advocacy in 2025 to ensure compliance to law and order.
“People came into Lagos this last December, did this so many dirts? No, because we were on top of our game.
“This year will be much more bigger and then we must start the advocacy from now,” he said.
He thanked Lagosians for being patient and assured them of a better and cleaner environment in 2025.
The commissioner during the tour ordered the immediate sealing of three buildings on Adeniji Adele road for dumping of building materials on the drainage channels.
Wahab noted that there was going back on the ban on single use plastics, adding that littering especially with styrofoam had reduced in the state.
The places visited by the team include Bombata Multipurpose Market; Oroyinyin area; Princess Street, Isale Gangan; Aroloya Street; Idumagbo Street; Adeniji Adele Trapezoidial Canal; Epe Collector Drain along Adeniji Adele Road and Ilubirin.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) Limited, to “account for and explain the whereabouts of the alleged missing N825 billion and $2.5 billion meant for ‘refinery rehabilitation’ and other oil revenues, as documented in the 2021 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation.”
GCEO, NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari
The group, which made the submission in a statement endorsed by Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP Deputy Director, on Sunday, January 5, 2025, said the annual report was published on Thursday, November 27, 2024.
SERAP asked Kyari “to identify those suspected to be responsible for the disappeared oil money and hand them over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”
In the letter dated January 4, 2025, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “We welcome your timely public invitation to former president Obasanjo ‘to tour the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries’.”
SERAP said, “While your invitation is clearly not ‘disrespectful’, contrary to the claims by the former president because no one is above the law, we urge you to formally invite him, and to extend your invitation to the EFCC and ICPC for the sake of transparency and accountability.
The letter, reads in part: “The grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, national anticorruption laws, and the country’s international obligations.
“The allegations have also undermined economic development of the country, trapped the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprived them of opportunities.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel the NNPCL to comply with our requests in the public interest.
“According to the recently published 2021 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) failed to account for over N825 billion and $2.5 billion of public funds meant for ‘refinery rehabilitation’ and repairs, and other oil revenues.
“The Auditor-General fears that the money may be missing.”
“The NNPCL reportedly failed to account for over N82 billion (N82,951,595,510.47) meant for ‘refinery rehabilitation and repairs.’ The ‘money was deducted from the sale of Crude Oil and Gas between 2020 and 2021’.”
“The Auditor-General fears the money may be missing. He wants the money recovered and remitted to the Federation Account. He also wants the NNPCL ‘to ensure that the amounts due for the Federation Account are not subjected to any deductions before remittance of net.’”
“The NNPCL also reportedly failed to account for over N343 billion (N343,642,598,726.51) ‘being proceeds from domestic crude sales.’ The ‘money, meant for ‘pipelines maintenance and management costs, was unilaterally deducted from the gross domestic crude sales.’
“The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury. He also wants the NNPCL to hand over those suspected to be involved to the EFCC and ICPC.
“The NNPCL also reportedly failed to account for over N83 billion (N83,659,813,739.99) ‘being miscellaneous income from the NNPC joint venture operations from 2016 to 2020.’ The ‘money was withdrawn from the CBN/NNPC sinking fund account (a suspense account).’
“The Auditor-General is concerned that this practice ‘has led the Federation to resort to borrowings.’ He wants ‘the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.’”
“The NNPCL also reportedly failed to account for over N204 billion (N204,853,744,047.39) ‘being unjustified deductions from the oil royalties for 2021.’ The ‘money was due to Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) now Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).’
“The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.
“The NNPCL also reportedly failed to account for over N3.7 billion (N3,748,581,281.27) ‘being money purportedly paid to a Company as a shortfall on sales of MT cargo of PMS.’ The Auditor-General fears the money may be missing. He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”
“The NNPCL also reportedly failed to account for over N28 billion (N28,654,179,867.00) ‘being outstanding bridging allowance from NNPC retail for 2021.’”
“The NNPCL failed to account for over N13.5 billion (N13,5559,658,148.91) ‘being outstanding bridging allowance claims from three major oil marketers in 2021.’”
“The Auditor-General is concerned that this ‘may have resulted in difficulty in funding the 2021 budget.’ He wants ‘the money recovered from both the NNPC retail and the major oil marketers and remitted to the Federation Account.’
“The NNPCL also reportedly failed to account for over N15 billion (N14,134,947,949.80 and N1,087,533,332.62) ‘being outstanding revenues from debts owed by 26 marketers for 2021.’ The Auditor-General wants ‘the money recovered from the oil marketers and remitted to the Federation Account.’”
“The NNPCL reportedly failed to account for over $29.6 million ($29,648,970.36) ‘being outstanding royalties payable to the Department of Petroleum Resources CBN account.’ The Auditor-General is concerned this ‘may have resulted in difficulty in funding the 2021 budget.’ He wants the money recovered.’
“The NNPCL failed to collect over $2 billion ($2,260,448,992.45) ‘being outstanding oil royalties from oil companies for 2021’, and failed to collect over N48 billion (N48,218,163,192.67) ‘also being outstanding oil royalties from oil companies.’
“The Auditor-General fears that ‘the money may be missing.’ He is concerned that this ‘may have resulted in difficulty in funding the 2021 budget.’ He wants ‘the money recovered from the oil companies and remitted to the Federation Account.’”
“SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.
“The Auditor-General has for many years documented reports of disappearance of public funds from the NNPC. Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of these missing public funds meant for refinery rehabilitation.”
Illegal gold mining operations along the Likangala River in Malawi are raising environmental and health concerns among local residents, who report increased water pollution and ecosystem damage in Zomba District
Miners digging and searching for gold
Thokoza Chipande of Namalaka village says miners have created dam-like structures that cause water stagnation, potentially increasing mosquito breeding grounds and malaria risks.
The activity has also led to deforestation along the riverbank.
“We saw people collecting equipment from the miners saying they had banned the mining, but a few days later the miners started again digging the river,” Chipande said, referring to a failed enforcement attempt by alleged city officials last year.
Zomba City Council spokesman, Aubrey Mthyola Moses, confirmed the council hadn’t issued any mining licenses, noting such authority rests with the Ministry of Mining.
“We are engaging them through community development structures,” Moses said.
“This poses a threat to the environment.”
Despite environmental concerns, some miners defend their activities.
“I am just doing what is right for my family and me even though we are damaging the environment,” said Chrispin Chipengule, who earns K5,000 daily from mining.
“We receive payment whether we find gold or not.”
The situation is particularly concerning as the Likangala River is known for severe flooding during rainy seasons, and environmental degradation could worsen these risks.
The Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria has explained reasons for the upsurge in the price of onions and scarcity of the produce in the country.
Bags of onions
National President of the Association, Mr. Aliyu Isah, gave the reasons in an interview on Sunday, January 5, 2025, in Lagos.
Nigeria witnessed a soaring rise in the price of onions from the fourth quarter of 2024 with a bag selling between N250,000 and N270,000 as against N70,000 and N90,000 per bag in previous months.
While a medium-sized bulb of the produce sells at N500 as against N50 per bulb.
Isah said that the reasons for the hike in onion price were multifaceted, leading to low production of the produce.
“What caused the scarcity and high cost of onions from the last quarter of 2024 till now is as a result of the flooding.
“The flooding of 2024 that ravaged all our onion farms, from the producing bed of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, up to Adamawa states resulted in the scarcity of the produce.
“We also had the problem affecting onion production with the release of water from dams from the northern states.
In Sokoto, the water was released from Goroyo Dam, when it got to a certain level it affected the onion beds from Sokoto, Kebbi and up to Zamfara states.
“Also, we had the breakage of dams in Borno State which destroyed our onion farmlands,” Aliyu said.
He also blamed climate change effects resulting in extended rainfall and disease outbreak on onion farms as another reason for the price surge.
“The second issue affecting scarcity and the high cost of onions is that we experienced an extended and high level of rainfall up north in 2024.
“So, the high amount of rainfall resulted in high humidity which resulted in disease outbreak popularly called Downy Mildew, which destroyed most of our onion farms at various stages of cultivation.
“Some onions farms were affected at seedling stage, some at nursery stage, some when we were even about to harvest the onion,” the association president said.
He added that the unavailability of the produce due to lack of improved onion seedlings contributed to the development.
“The third is the issue of unavailability of the produce due to lack of improved onion seedlings. The factors of flooding and climate change has affected and disrupted our local seed production system.
“We do have not sufficient and quality onion seedlings, so we now rely on hybrid seed that we import from foreign countries.
“The issue of flooding really affected onion seed production so local farmers could not get enough seed to buy. This situation also resulted in the unavailability of onions. From the fourth quarter of 2024, and our farmers with their money, they could not see seed to buy.
“This also culminated to a serious problem where some unpatriotic Nigeria imported adulterated onion seed into the country and now our farmers are counting their losses because they planted a seed that cannot produce a bulb,” he said.
Aliyu lamented that lack of storage facilities and technology of the produce at harvests contributed to the surge in its price.
“Another contributory factor to scarcity and price surge of onions is post-harvest losses.
“That even when we harvest enough during the season because we lack improved technology of onion storage, we are being faced with more than 50 per cent post-harvest losses.
“This is to say that more than half of what we produce, we lose it after harvest. So, all these are part of the problem that is making the onions to be expensive,” Aliyu said.
Aliyu said the association was working with the Federal Government on ways to boost production and tackle the surge in the price of onions.
The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) have signed an agreement formalising Uzbekistan’s offer to host the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CITES (CITES COP20).
Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan (left), sign the CITES COP20 host country agreement alongside Ms. Ivonne Higuero, CITES Secretary-General, in the presence of Mr. Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of Environment of Panama, which was the host of CITES COP19 in 2022
The signing took place on October 29, 2024, at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) in Cali, Colombia, underscoring the interconnectedness of global efforts to conserve the planet’s biodiversity.
Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, signed the Host Country Agreement on behalf of the Uzbek government. In the presence of Mr. Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of Environment of Panama, which was the host of CITES COP19 in 2022, CITES Secretary-General, Ms. Ivonne Higuero, signed the Agreement on behalf of the Secretariat.
Minister Abdukhakimov said: “Signing the Host Country Agreement during CBD COP16 emphasizes the importance of collaboration in tackling biodiversity loss and illegal wildlife trade. We are excited to welcome the international community to Samarkand for COP20 in 2025, where we will unite our efforts in safeguarding our planet’s rich biological heritage.”
In handing over the role of hosting the CITES COP from Panama to Uzbekistan, Minister Navarro remarked, “as we pass our host country flag, I am confident that Uzbekistan will enjoy hosting CITES COP20 as much as we have for COP19. This is not only because of the importance of regulating wildlife trade, but also because CITES COP is a highly technical meeting. It ensures that CITES decision-making is scientifically based and has a tangible impact on our economies and societies.”
CITES Secretary-General Higuero said: “We extend our gratitude to the Republic of Uzbekistan for their generous and timely offer to host CITES COP20 in beautiful Samarkand. Hosting CITES COP20 in this ancient city brings both a sense of history and a vision of the future – a future of Peace with Nature, in which international trade in wild species is well-regulated, the challenges associated with wildlife crime are significantly diminished and CITES-listed species are able to thrive in nature.”
With the signing, Uzbekistan will officially host the gathering of the 184 Parties to CITES and the wide array of wildlife conservation and trade stakeholders in Samarkand in 2025. A CITES Party since 1997, Uzbekistan is home to numerous species listed in the CITES Appendices, including the snow leopard, the saiga antelope and medicinal plants. By bringing this global conference on wildlife trade to Samarkand, Uzbekistan is demonstrating its commitment to international cooperation and the future of wild fauna and flora species.
CITES COP20 provides the opportunity for CITES Parties to engage in vital discussions regarding the sustainability, legality and traceability of international wildlife trade, species conservation, and sustainable resource management. Every two to three years, the Conference of the Parties meets to review the implementation of the Convention, providing the occasion for CITES Parties to:
review progress in the conservation of species included in the Appendices;
consider (and where appropriate adopt) proposals to amend the lists of species in Appendices I and II;
consider discussion documents and reports from the Parties, the permanent committees, the Secretariat and working groups;
recommend measures to improve the effectiveness of the Convention; and
make provisions (including the adoption of a budget) necessary to allow the Secretariat to function effectively.
In addition to being the 20th CITES COP meeting, the 2025 gathering will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Convention’s entry into force in 1975.
