Seplat Energy Plc, Nigeria’s leading indigenous oil and gas producer, has expressed its commitment to partnering with the Akwa Ibom State Government for sustainable development.
Akwa Ibom State Government and Seplat Energy officials
This was disclosed during a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, by a Seplat delegation led by the Board Chairman, Senator Udo Udoma, in Uyo.
The Seplat delegation used the occasion to formally brief the Governor on the recent completion of the acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited by Seplat Energy Offshore Limited, clarifying that the entity will now be known as Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited (SEPNU), retaining all assets and liabilities of the previous company.
The Chairman further outlined the company’s objective of significantly contributing to meeting Nigeria’s strategic oil and gas aspirations while supporting the socio-economic development of Akwa Ibom State. Emphasising its commitment to sustainable operations, Senator Udoma highlighted key areas where SEPNU aims to collaborate closely with the state government and communities to ensure long-term mutual benefits to all parties.
“We are honoured to have the opportunity to engage with the Akwa Ibom State Government and present our vision for a collaborative future,” said Sen. Udoma. “Our commitment is not only to the growth of our operations but also to the well-being and prosperity of the communities where we operate. We are confident that through strong partnerships and shared goals, we can bring significant economic and social benefits to the country, state and our communities.”
Governor Umo Eno welcomed the Seplat team which also included the Group Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown and the Managing Director of Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mr. Oladotun Isiaka. He assured the team of the state government’s unwavering support and continued commitment to creating an enabling environment for the company’s operations.
He expressed hope that the collaboration between the state government and SEPNU will yield tangible benefits for the people, boost the local economy and promote sustainable development.
The ECA Office in North Africa and the Ministry Delegate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad, organised a workshop on Thursday, January 17, 2025, in Abidjan on the strengthening the contribution of the diaspora to national development.
President of the Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara
The workshop, which was attended by 55 representatives from various ministries and agencies, the UN system, academia, the private sector and civil society, explored available initiatives to maximise the contribution from diaspora to development.
The meeting is part of ECA’s programme on strengthening the migration-development nexus in Africa, which aims to provide technical support and strengthen the capacity of African countries to integrate diaspora contributions, particularly remittances, into national plans and socio-economic policies.
Remittances have been a resilient and vital source for Côte d’Ivoire’s development in times of international shocks and crises, said Samia Hamouda, an economist and programme officer at the ECA Office for North Africa. Remittances are an opportunity that could increase if they are geared towards investment, she added, calling for designing adequate policies and tools to maximise the benefit.
Mr. Goli Kouamé Louis-Philippe, Chief of Staff of the Ministry Delegate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad, for his part, stressed the importance of migration and remittances as a possible driving force in national development. He reiterated the importance of optimising these financial flows, ensuring that appropriate policies are in place and establishing a constructive dialogue between stakeholders. He also expressed his gratitude to the ECA for this initiative and for choosing Côte d’Ivoire for the programme.
The workshop concluded with the establishment of a national technical working group (NTWG), validation and adoption of its terms of reference. Technical support will be provided to (i) implement the identified priorities, (ii) propose reforms/actions and (iii) develop an enabling environment for diaspora investment.
Transforming the Chinese food system could put the country on a better path toward achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, a new study from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Zhejiang University (ZJU) in Hangzhou, China, finds.
Chinese food
The study analyses the trade-offs and outcomes of various policy measures aimed at transforming the country’s food system. A shift towards healthy diets is thereby a no-regret option for a more sustainable Chinese food system. In contrast, focusing exclusively on climate mitigation, ecological conservation, or accelerated socio-economic development creates significant trade-offs between social and environmental outcomes.
According to the study published in Nature Food, China’s current trajectory is misaligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The researchers assessed potential pathways for achieving the SDGs in China by transforming its food system, focusing on dietary changes, climate change mitigation, ecological conservation, and socio-economic development.
“Action across all areas of the food system is required to achieve a sustainable food system and efficiently address the wide range of social and environmental challenges such as reducing malnutrition, mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring livelihoods,” says lead author Xiaoxi Wang, scientist at PIK and ZJU.
“We found that transitioning to healthy diets resulted in the fewest trade-offs, improving nutrition, health, the environment, and livelihoods,” says PIK scientist Benjamin Bodirsky, author of the study.
These trade-offs can be minimised by bundling measures aimed at public health, environmental sustainability, and livelihood improvement into a comprehensive approach. This emphasises the importance of coordinated efforts to achieve a sustainable food system.
Using an integrated modelling framework that evaluates 18 outcome indicators, the scientists quantified the impacts of various policy measures, and the trade-offs associated with pursuing public health, environmental sustainability, and livelihood improvements separately.
“Our findings suggest that a holistic approach to food system transformation, addressing these challenges together, is essential for steering China towards its SDG targets,” says PIK scientist Hermann Lotze-Campen, author of the study.
The annual search is underway to find and honour Africa’s most visionary, inspiring, collaborative, committed, and courageous conservation leaders with nominations now open for the 2025 Tusk Conservation Awards, in partnership with Ninety One, organisers said on Wednesday, January 22.
Prince William, Prince of Wales presents the Wildlife Ranger award onstage to Jealous Mpofu during the 2023 Tusk Conservation Awards at The Savoy Hotel on November 27, 2023, in London, England. Photo credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Tusk
Three winners will be chosen from what are expected to be hundreds of applications from across the continent and feted at a prestigious ceremony later in the year, with awards presented by HRH Prince William.
Successful nominees will be those who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities and collaboration, especially with local communities, who come up with innovative approaches to conservation challenges that others can replicate and scale, and who create change that can outlast them, among other criteria.
Since the Awards were launched in 2013, the 57 winners and finalists have included a Madagascan helping communities conserve 3,500 sq km of their forests and wetlands; an anthropologist leading rangers protecting mountain gorillas in war-torn eastern Congo; a Zimbabwean intelligence officer who has jailed more poachers than anyone else in his country; and a herpetologist working with coastal communities to keep turtles safe in the seas off Sierra Leone.
The Awards’ role in shining a light on the often-unsung efforts of Africa’s conservation visionaries is more important than ever. Africa’s wildlife populations dropped by more than three-quarters since 1970. An area of forest the size of Kentucky or Switzerland is felled each year. Rangelands that cover 43% of the continent, supporting 268 million livestock keepers in 36 countries, are degrading fast.
Tusk says it is committed to funding, supporting, and amplifying the work of Africa’s conservationists, whose innovative projects create meaningful change for both wildlife and people across the continent.
Nick Bubb, CEO of Tusk, said: “There is an urgent need to protect nature in Africa. Tusk believes it is the progressive work of conservationists on the ground that creates lasting change for both wildlife and people. By finding, funding, and telling the stories of such individuals, we are championing those who create inspiring solutions to conservation challenges, and we are backing those who understand, respect and protect the natural world.”
Nominees cannot apply themselves. They must be nominated by someone else, who could be a friend, colleague, lecturer, teacher, mentor or mentee, supervisor, partner, or anyone who knows them well enough to complete the comprehensive nomination form.
Nominations will fall into one of three categories. Nominees may only be entered to one category:
Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa – This is a lifetime achievement award that recognises outstanding dedication and exceptional continued contribution to conservation in Africa.
The Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa – This award is given to an individual judged to be an inspiring mid-career conservationist in recognition of their outstanding contribution and leadership qualities.
Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award – This award gives international recognition to the dedication and commitment of an individual who works in the field to protect Africa’s wildlife and wild places.
Rachel Ikemeh, Founder and Director of the SW/Niger Delta Forest Project and 2021 finalist of the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa, said: “I am forever grateful for having been made a Tusk finalist. As a project leader of the SW/Niger Delta Forest Project it has been so encouraging and motivating to have the rigours and challenges of my work fully recognised. The exposure from being a Tusk finalist brought my project to light and was a huge help in persuading people of the importance of managing protected areas.”
The Tusk Conservation Awards are held in partnership with Ninety One. They are supported by the Nick Maughan Family Foundation, DHL, Defender, ISPS Handa, Fortemus Films & Gallantium, Shelton Fleming, Justerini & Brooks, Patrick Mavros, and The Savoy Hotel.
Environmental non-government organisation (NGO), DEVCON-PADIC-Afria, has wrapped up a two-year project by empowering women and other community members in Cross River State in bee farming and creation of cooperatives.
Iko Esai community members during the two-day Project Sharing Lessons Workshop
The project, which was implemented by DEVCON PADIC-Africa, a community-based organisation rooted in most communities in the state, got its funding from international donors like Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).
Executive Director of the organisation, Dr. Martins Egot, on Monday, January 20, 2925, during a two-day Project Lessons Sharing workshop held at Iko Esai community in Akamkpa local government council titled “Ensuring Iko Esai Community Forest Management Strategy” said the project has achieved its aim by improving the livelihood of forest communities especially women.
Egot, who expressed satisfaction on how the project has impacted positively on the community, said the two outstanding activities that solidified the project so far was the establishment of eco-guards and the bee farming, noting that it was exciting for the beneficiaries and the organisation.
“The community is interesting; they contributed a lot by cooperating with us in making decisions and their zeal and enthusiasm is really encouraging. I can proudly say that the project met their expectations, and they are happy that the project came this far.
“There are two outstanding activities that solidified the project, one is the eco-guards, which inspected the community roads and forest governance, the people are happy about it, and the second activity is bee farming.
“It is exciting for us and for them, the bee hives are flourishing and we are all expecting to get honey from them in a few months and sell them. Another important activity is the cooperative group for women. We need to upscale these activities for the nearest future,” Egot expressed.
On their part, the two resource persons, Wildlife Conservative Society’s (WCS) Mr. Tony Attah and the Director, Cross River State Eco-Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Mr. Clement Omina, advised the beneficiaries of the project to use the skills to generate income through forest management and at the same time protect the forest from deforestation.
Omina charged them to appreciate and showcase their heritage by identifying natural resources that are not known to the world especially the state government, stating that this would attract donor agencies and government support to the area.
The community members expressed gratitude for what they described as knowledge of wealth received in the past two years since the beginning of the project.
Speaking on behalf of women, Akon Ekpe commended the organisation for bringing the project to the people in the grassroot.
She said the community women have improved their livelihood from all the empowerment ranging from bee farming that produces honey, raising of nurseries of indigenous tree species and creation of cooperative groups for the women.
The African Energy Chamber commends Nigeria for its dedication to simplifying policies and facilitating market growth for global oil and gas investors in the country’s energy sector
Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri (left) with Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperipe Ekpo
Nigeria ranks as Africa’s leading destination for upstream oil and gas investment in 2024, research from market intelligence firm Wood Mackenzie shows. The country accounted for three out of four Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) announced by global oil and gas majors, totaling $13.5 billion.
The FIDs announced within the Nigerian market included Shell’s $122 million investment in the Iseni Gas Project, TotalEnergies’ $566 million commitment to the Ubeta Gas Project and Shell’s approval of the Bonga North Tranche 1 project. The investments reflect Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to unlock its hydrocarbon potential through investor-friendly policies and strategic global partnerships.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC), as the voice of the African energy sector, congratulates Nigeria for the milestone. The Chamber commends the Nigerian government for its proactive legislations aimed at attracting foreign investments, streamlining project implementation and reducing bottlenecks.
In 2024, Nigeria introduced several initiatives to create a conducive environment for oil and gas investors, including new tax incentives aimed at attracting up to $10 billion in natural gas investments – offering tax relief for gas investors, reducing corporate income tax and extending capital allowance benefits – for deepwater gas projects.
Other policies include the Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements, 2024 to address reduction in oil and gas investments caused by high operating costs compared to global markets. The Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Costs and Timelines, 2024 reduces time spent to award contracts for oil and gas projects.
In addition to the directives, Nigeria also launched its 2024 oil and gas licensing round, offering 19 blocks for exploration, demonstrating its commitment to continued collaboration with local, regional and international partners. With this momentum, further FIDs are anticipated, including TotalEnergies’ expected $750 million commitment to the Ima Shallow Gas Project in 2025.
With 45% of the Nigerian population lacking access to electricity and affordable and reliable energy, the Chamber believes the FIDs and policies are a right step in driving the country’s universal energy access and socioeconomic development targets.
“Nigeria continues to set a benchmark for investor-friendly policies, leveraging its hydrocarbon potential and government initiatives to drive sustainable development,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC, adding:
“The Chamber commends President Tinubu, Special Adviser to the President on Energy Olu Arowolo Verheijen and Nigerian energy stakeholders for fostering an environment that attracts global investments, contributing to energy poverty eradication, sustainable development and global energy market stability.”
The upcoming African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2025 conference – taking place from September 29 to October 3, 2025 – will hosts key Nigerian policymakers and energy stakeholders showcasing investment opportunities within Nigeria’s burgeoning oil and gas industry.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to enforce the state’s Environmental Management Protection Law (2017) in order to curb the activities of scavengers in the state.
Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Mojisola Meranda
The House passed the resolution through voice votes at the plenary in Ikeja on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
The Speaker, Mrs. Mojisola Meranda, who presided over the plenary, said the House was worried about the growing cases of vandalisation and stealing of critical infrastructure, such as manhole covers, pedestrian bridge railings and streetlight cables in the state.
According to her, the trend could undermine the state’s infrastructural development efforts, if allowed to continue.
The speaker, thereafter, urged all Sanwo-Olu to direct relevant law enforcement agencies to arrest any person found stealing and vandalising public infrastructure and ensure that offenders face the full wrath of the law.
“This House notes the relentless efforts of the state in providing critical social infrastructure, aimed at fulfilling electoral promises, delivering the dividends of democracy, and improving the welfare of its citizenry.
“This House further notes that we have enacted various laws, including the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and Environmental Management Protection Law, 2017, to protect and maintain the infrastructure, provided by the government.
“We have also observed that these infrastructure, including the roads with underground ducts, iron-cast manhole covers and bridges with steel safety rails amongst others, are designed to enhance the quality of life for residents.
“This is by providing safety for road users; reducing traffic congestion on highways; preventing the loss of productive man-hours, drainage systems to prevent flooding and improve the overall road network system in the state.
“This House is concerned about the growing menace of scavengers and criminally minded individuals who, through their activities, vandalise and steal critical infrastructure,” Meranda said.
She said enforcement of environmental laws was imperative to ensure that appropriate sanctions were applied against violators and criminally minded scavengers.
Meranda also urged the state government to come up with composite materials such as glass-reenforced plastic manhole cover as these materials have little to no resale value in the scrap market.
She also urged the state government, as a matter of urgency, to replace all the manhole covers that had been removed, in order to ensure safety of Lagos residents.
Meranda urged the governor to direct the Commissioner, Ministry of Information and Strategy, to embark on awareness campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of manhole theft and encourage residents to report suspicious activities.
She said the government could create a whistleblower process to garner information that could lead to the arrest of manhole thieves.
Meranda said the government could raise community vigilance to encourage local communities to form neighbourhood groups, including Community Development Associations, to monitor and protect public infrastructure.
Conservation International announced on January 15, 2025, that the debt-for-nature swap between the United States of America, the Republic of Indonesia and several non-governmental organisations (Conservation International, Yayasan Konservasi Cakrawala Indonesia, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, The Nature Conservancy) has officially been closed and $35 million will now begin to flow toward the protection and restoration of Indonesia’s highest priority coral reef ecosystems.
The funds will be used to conserve and protect coral reefs which are under threat globally from pollution and ocean acidification
First signed in July 2024, this debt-for-nature swap marks the first time the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act will be used to drive funding specifically to coral reefs. This historic commitment will now benefit the conservation of two of the most biologically diverse reefs on the planet – the Bird’s Head and Lesser Sunda-Banda seascapes, home to iconic animals like turtles, sharks, whales and dolphins as well as hundreds of coral species. These underwater networks of sea life not only help keep the coral reefs and greater ocean healthy, but they also provide food security, storm surge protection, livelihoods and economic opportunity for the region.
Over the next nine years and in place of existing debt commitments, Indonesia will redirect the $35 million to establish a conservation fund that will issue grants to civil society organisations and support projects designed to restore and maintain the country’s reefs. This effort will also benefit the Indigenous Peoples and local communities that rely on healthy coral reef ecosystems for sustenance and livelihoods.
For more than 35 years, debt-for-nature swaps have played an integral role in financing global conservation efforts, allowing countries to restructure their debt in a way that benefits nature and people. Conservation International brokered the first in Bolivia in 1987. To date, Indonesia has participated in four swaps with the US, three previously and this historic global first to conserve and protect coral reefs which are under threat globally from pollution, ocean acidification and record-breaking temperatures.
As the National Assembly continues its review of the N49.7 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill presented by President Bola Tinubu on December 18, 2024, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the Senate and House of Representatives to raise the budgetary allocation for Tobacco Control in the 2025 National Budget from the current N10 million to N300 million.
Tobacco smoking
CAPPA, in separate petitions on Monday, January 20, 2025, to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, reasoned that allocating a minimum of N300 millionis essential to address the multifaceted challenges posed by tobacco use and support the effective implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) 2015.
Highlighting the danger of tobacco consumption and the stakes at hand, Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director, noted that tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, including in Nigeria.
“Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, and Nigeria is no exception. Annually, tobacco-related illnesses claim 26,800 Nigerian lives and inflict debilitating conditions and non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory diseases on thousands more. The economic toll is immense, costing billions in healthcare expenses and lost productivity. Additionally, tobacco cultivation exacerbates deforestation and soil degradation, while cigarette waste pollutes the environment,” Oluwafemi said.
The challenge, he noted, is further compounded by the emergence of unregulated tobacco and nicotine products that target younger demographics and exploit gaps in the regulatory framework.
Oluwafemi added: “These products, including electronic cigarettes and novel smokeless tobacco, are marketed as trendy despite their health risks. Moreover, tobacco companies in Nigeria continue to exploit weak monitoring systems to market their offerings aggressively on social media, as well as utilise corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to gain favour with public health authorities, thereby undermining tobacco control laws and enticing more users into tobacco consumption.
“To counteract these threats, it is imperative that the Nigerian government intensify its efforts in regulation and control, recognising the grave public health and economic impacts of tobacco use. To be clear, the Federal Government must respond with proportional investment in the TCF for the effective regulation of tobacco consumption.”
CAPPA observed that while the 2024 budget commendably increased allocation to the TCF to N10 million from N4.7 million directed to it in 2023, it remains insufficient for several critical reasons.
Oluwafemi said: “Firstly, operational costs consume a large portion of the funds. The National Tobacco Control Committee (NATOCC) require substantial finance running in millions for the coordination of its meetings, which should occur at least four times annually as stipulated by the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA). The current allocation to the TCF, which provides support for these meetings, remains poor and, therefore, leaves virtually no financial room for this activity or other essential responsibilities of the NATOCC.
“Secondly, effective sensitisation campaigns need robust media outreach, deep community engagement, and active coordination with various stakeholders across the country. These activities require substantial funding to reach a wide audience and create impactful messages.
“Thirdly, there is a pressing need for alternative cropping initiatives to support tobacco farmers transitioning to sustainable crops. This shift involves continuous investment in training programs, provision of quality seedlings, and adequate financial support to ensure that these farmers can move to more sustainable and health-friendly agricultural practices.
“Furthermore, enforcement and monitoring activities are crucial to combat industry interference and ensure compliance with tobacco control regulations. This includes prosecuting violations, safeguarding smoke-free spaces and ensuring a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, amongst other efforts. Adequate funding is also essential to equip and train enforcement teams on the front lines of this battle, ensuring that regulations are not only in place but actively upheld.”
To this end, CAPPA made two requests of the upper and lower chambers. The first is to “increase the tobacco control allocation to a minimum of n300m in the 2025 budget and ensure subsequent increments in future budgets.”
The CSO reasoned that this would allow the National Tobacco Control Committee (NATOCC) and Tobacco Control Unit (TCU) domiciled within the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to convene mandated meetings and implement robust public health campaigns to educate citizens about the dangers of tobacco use, fund research initiatives to monitor trends in tobacco consumption and evaluate policy impacts, enhance enforcement efforts, including monitoring compliance with existing laws and prosecuting violations and support alternative livelihood programs for tobacco farmers, ensuring that they transition sustainably to other crops.
Secondly, CAPPA called for the full operationalisation of the National Tobacco Control Fund.
The Tobacco Control Fund (TCF) was established under Section 8 of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Act (NTCA), 2015, as part of a comprehensive framework to combat the harmful effects of tobacco consumption. The fund is drawn from various sources, including appropriations from the national budget, proceeds of fines for violations of tobacco laws, and contributions from relevant development bodies for tobacco control.
Explaining the TCF’s importance, Oluwafemi added: “By establishing the TCF, the federal government recognised the enormous public health risks posed by tobacco and the role of adequate financial resources to combat them. In fact, the TCF is intended to support vital activities such as public health campaigns, regulatory enforcement of the NTCA, research on tobacco trends, and alternative livelihood programs for tobacco farmers.
“However, since its creation, the Fund has yet to achieve full operationalisation, leaving Nigerians vulnerable to the unchecked dangers of tobacco consumption and marketing.
“By fully operationalising the TCF, ensuring transparent and accountable fund management, and bolstering the institutional capacity of relevant public health authorities to exercise their mandate, the National Assembly will be leading the charge in safeguarding public health, reducing economic burdens, and protecting the environment from the devastating impacts of tobacco.”
Concerned civil society organisations (CSOs) have called for restraint on the planned resumption of oil extraction in Ogoniland, citing environmental degradation, social injustices, and a lack of meaningful community engagement.
Workers stand by a container to collect oil spill waste, in Ogoniland, Nigeria, June 16, 2023
The groups, representing various stakeholders across the Niger Delta, issued their statement after a meeting at the Port Harcourt office of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria.
The statement was endorsed by several organisations, including Environmental Rights Action, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Ogoni Solidarity Forum-Nigeria, and others.
According to the groups, the call for a restraint follows an invitation by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for select Ogoni leaders to attend a private meeting in Abuja to discuss resuming oil production.
The civil organisations criticised this approach, describing it as dismissive of the collective will of the Ogoni people, whose lands and livelihoods have been devastated by decades of reckless oil exploitation.
“Ogoniland remains a stark example of environmental degradation, with decades of oil spills, gas flaring, and poor remediation efforts leaving land, water, and air heavily polluted.
“The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland in 2011 highlighted the catastrophic effects of oil activities, including severe health impacts and economic losses for the Ogoni people.
“Despite the report’s recommendations, implementation has been slow, with the Nigerian government and oil companies accused of neglecting cleanup efforts.
“The attempt to resume oil extraction without addressing these environmental crises is an affront to the Ogoni people’s right to a safe environment,” the statement read.
The groups outlined a series of demands aimed at ensuring justice, environmental restoration, and sustainable development in Ogoniland and the broader Niger Delta.
They called for the allocation of $1 trillion for the cleanup of the land and compensation for lost livelihood.
“Full and transparent execution of the UNEP report’s recommendations and increased funding for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
“Review of the military trial and execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other environmental activists, along with their exoneration.
“Enforcement of strict regulations and holding oil companies, particularly Shell, accountable for past damages.
“Prioritising a shift away from fossil fuels to mitigate environmental harm and address climate change,” the coalition said.
They urged the federal government to recognise Ken Saro-Wiwa, an Ogoni environmental activist executed in 1995, as a hero of the environment, similar to the national honour conferred on MKO Abiola for his role in democracy.
