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Nigeria’s financial sector mobilises toward deforestation-free finance

Michael Simire
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Nigeria’s financial sector mobilises toward deforestation-free finance

Climate imperatives are reshaping the landscape of financial responsibility – and, in Nigeria, a new front is opening against deforestation and environmental degradation

On July 9–10, 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the GEF-7 Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Programme in Nigeria and with support from UN-REDD, convened a high-level virtual workshop aimed at integrating deforestation-free finance into Nigeria’s financial architecture.

Nigeria REDD+
In Nigeria, a new front is opening against deforestation and environmental degradation. Photo credit: UNDP Cambodia/Chansok Lay/Oddar Meanchey

Sector-Wide Engagement

The two-day dialogue brought together more than 30 decision-makers and technical experts from seven key financial institutions: the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Agriculture, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Sterling Bank, Bank of Industry, Nigerian Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), and Advans Lafayette Microfinance Bank.

Unified by a shared objective, these institutions explored strategies to align with emerging global sustainability benchmarks, while safeguarding Nigeria’s forests, ecosystems, and rural livelihoods. The initiative underscores the growing realisation that deforestation is not only an environmental concern – but a material financial risk.

Risks, Readiness, and Resilience

Participants acknowledged the systemic risks associated with unsustainable land use: reputational fallout, regulatory exposures, and vulnerability to asset devaluation amid climate volatility. However, these risks are matched by unprecedented opportunities. Nigeria’s Sustainable Banking Principles provide an enabling foundation, and the financial sector is signalling a commitment to responsible growth through ESG frameworks, exclusion policies, and green lending instruments.

International case studies – particularly from Brazil – were spotlighted, demonstrating how blended finance, structured investment vehicles, and sustainability incentives can support scalable transformation.

Pathways Forward: A Roadmap for Action

Stakeholders co-developed a phased roadmap to institutionalise deforestation-free finance across Nigeria:

  • Short-Term Priorities: Capacity-building efforts focusing on ESG integration, geospatial analytics, and multi-stakeholder coordination.
  • Medium-Term Goals: Harmonised regulations, product innovation for sustainable production financing, and partnerships with development finance institutions to support smallholders and SMEs.
  • Long-Term Vision: Full-scale integration of deforestation-free and ESG criteria into banking standards – positioning Nigeria to unlock green capital inflows and align with global compliance frameworks.

Building Institutional Momentum

Delegates advocated for a national in-person forum to accelerate implementation and deepen sectoral collaboration. FAO and its partners were urged to provide continued support in developing operational tools, enhancing institutional capabilities, and facilitating blended finance models to de-risk investments in sustainable land use.

Dr. Paul Oluikpe from the Development Finance Unit of the Central Bank of Nigeria underscored the critical need for coordinated leadership:

“As climate and deforestation risks evolve, Nigeria must continuously update its frameworks, adopt international best practices, and invest in technologies that support deforestation-free finance. A resilient agricultural sector is pivotal to economic stability and environmental conservation,” he said.

Toward a Sustainable Financial Future

This convening marks more than a strategic touchpoint – it signals the emergence of a paradigm shift. The redirection of capital flows toward deforestation-free ventures will be instrumental in advancing Nigeria’s climate goals, preserving biodiversity, and fortifying the rural economy.

For FAO and the FOLUR Nigeria Project, this workshop is a catalyst for long-term partnerships with the financial sector, forging a future where environmental integrity and fiscal responsibility go hand in hand.

From measurement to action: A new ecosystem for climate implementation in Africa

Michael Simire
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From measurement to action: A new ecosystem for climate implementation in Africa

A new, dynamic ecosystem for climate action is rapidly maturing across Africa, characterized by a sophisticated shift from ambition to tangible results. Two landmark initiatives stand at the forefront of this evolution: the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) NDC Implementation Index (https://atps-ndcindex.africa/), a living document, which provides a crucial scorecard for progress annually, and the recently launched Africa Green Economy and Sustainability Institute (AGESI) (https://agesi.africa),  an engine designed to drive on-the-ground implementation. Together, they represent a powerful, African-led approach to tackling the climate crisis.

Magnus Chidi Onuoha
Magnus Chidi Onuoha (top) and Eugene Itua

Part I: The Scorecard – Measuring What Matters with the ATPS NDC Index

The launch of the ATPS NDC Index, a collaborative effort with the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and the West African Green Economic Development Institute (WAGEDI), provides a clear, data-driven snapshot of how nations are translating their climate commitments into action. By evaluating countries across five core pillars – Governance, Mitigation, Adaptation, MRV/Transparency, and Finance/Technology – the index creates a transparent framework for accountability.

The 2024 findings have already offered vital insights. The celebration of Zimbabwe, Kenya and Ethiopia as top performers creates a “race to the top,” inspiring continent-wide ambition. Crucially, the index reveals the mechanics of success. Nigeria’s strong performance in the “Governance” category, for instance, is attributed directly to its landmark Climate Change Act, underscoring a foundational lesson: robust legal frameworks are the bedrock of effective climate action.

However, by highlighting the leaders and the laggards, the index also illuminates the continent’s primary challenge: the persistent gap between policy and projects. This raises the critical question that the index helps to frame: Now that we know where we stand, how do we accelerate the pace of real-world implementation?

Part II: The Engine – Driving Implementation with AGESI

This is precisely where AGESI comes in. Positioned as the answer to the “how,” AGESI was launched in June 2025 with a clear mandate to function as a “do-tank,” not just a think-tank. Its core mission is to convert the ambitions measured by the ATPS Index into concrete, bankable projects.

AGESI is engineered to dismantle the key barriers to implementation:

  • Catalysing Climate Finance: Access to finance is a major hurdle. AGESI tackles this by de-risking investments to attract private capital and by acting as a crucial link to major financiers. Its partnerships are key: the African Development Bank (AfDB) defines AGESI as the “catalyst” for the projects it will finance, while its collaboration with the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) – the country’s Green Climate Fund (GCF) accredited entity – provides a direct channel to structure projects that meet global standards.
  • Driving Execution and Capacity: Moving beyond policy, AGESI is designed to “help build the road,” as noted by Nigeria’s Minister of Environment. It strengthens the entire ecosystem by championing transparent governance to prevent a “green resource curse” and by partnering with universities to build the local human capital needed to manage and scale green projects.
  • Convening the Coalition: As a neutral convener, AGESI brings all the necessary players to one table: government bodies, financial institutions, private sector innovators, and academic researchers.

The choice of Lagos, Nigeria, for its first office is a masterstroke. It places this new engine at the heart of Africa’s largest economy, allowing it to work directly with the Federal Government to support its Climate Change Act and leverage its vibrant private sector. Nigeria thus becomes a powerful proving ground for developing successful, scalable models that can be replicated across the continent.

Conclusion: A Synergistic Approach for a Climate-Resilient Africa

The parallel emergence of the ATPS NDC Index and AGESI creates a complete and synergistic ecosystem for climate action in Africa. If the ATPS Index is the scorecard showing a country’s performance, AGESI is the coach and trainer, providing the technical, financial, and collaborative support needed to improve that score.

For the first time, the continent has both a transparent, African-owned tool to measure progress and a dedicated, action-oriented institution to drive it. This powerful combination empowers Africa to take full ownership of its climate destiny, equipped not just with ambition, but with the machinery to turn that ambition into a sustainable and prosperous reality.

By Eugene Itua (Executive Director, AGESI & CEO, Natural Eco Capital) and Magnus Chidi Onuoha (Executive Director, West Africa Green Economic Development Institute – WAGEDI)

Both Authors are part of the Nigeria Climate and Circular Economy Consortium made up of the West Africa Green Economic Development Institute (WAGEDI) and Natural Eco Capital

Voluntary climate action: SPP takes the lead in GHG emission reporting

Michael Simire
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Voluntary climate action: SPP takes the lead in GHG emission reporting

The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) recently took a bold and unprecedented step by publishing its 2024 Greenhouse (GHG) Emissions report.

Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo
Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo

I consider this as good innovation and I wish all institutions can be made to do same. Given the current circumstance where organisations still hesitate to quantify and disclose their emissions as required by the Nigerian Climate Change Act 2021, SPP’s transparent self-assessment stands out as a powerful example of voluntary climate action.

Despite section 24(1)(a) of the Climate Change Act 2021 mandates that private entities with 50 or more employees must implement measures to achieve annual carbon-emission reduction targets in line with the National Adaptation plan; over the years, many organisations – NGOs included – have treated these obligations as optional, due largely to weak enforcement. This is what makes SPP’s move to be significant and laudable at the moment.

This weak enforcement is even more curious considering that Section 24(2) of the Climate Change Act further empowers the Council to impose fines on organisations that fail to meet emission reporting and reduction targets. There is need for a strategic institutional approach to drive compliance as we don’t like to do things voluntarily

It is therefore highly commendable that when most organisations are not willing to be environmentally responsible – notably NGOs have largely focused on advocating for others to reduce emissions, and rarely scrutinising their own practices – SPP’s voluntary climate action shines a light on two fundamental truths.

Firstly, it shows that without compulsion, voluntary climate action is possible. The climate advocacy landscape must start with self-reflection and accountability.

Secondly, by walking the talk, SPP, under the leadership of Professor Chukwumerije Okereke has shown that emission reporting is practicable. This has helped to lower the perceived barriers to emission reduction, making it easier for others to follow suit.

I encourage more organisations to emulate SPP’s leadership in this regard and transparently publish emissions data, set reduction targets, and outline their decarbonisation strategy.

Section 32(a) of the Nigerian Climate Change Act, already sets the target for National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS) “to develop regulations requiring both private and public entities to report annually on greenhouse gas reductions and climate responsibilities” – this is where strategic institutional approach I advocated for becomes highly imperative.

Emission reduction reporting plays a vital role for organisations of all sizes in meeting the objectives established by the Paris Agreement. Through the systematic measurement and disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions, organisations are able to pinpoint critical areas for enhancement, establish reduction targets, and monitor their progress over time. Transparent reporting as demonstrated by SPP promotes accountability and motivates companies to embrace more sustainable practices.

Additionally, it allows governments and stakeholders to evaluate overall advancements towards both national and international climate objectives. Collaborative initiatives in emission reporting can result in innovative solutions and technologies, ultimately aiding in a substantial decrease in emissions and assisting in the mitigation of climate change effects.

By Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo, renowned Climate Change Expert and Consultant

CAPPA condemns Ibadan varsity’s suspension of student activists, urges reinstatement

Michael Simire
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CAPPA condemns Ibadan varsity’s suspension of student activists, urges reinstatement

The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has condemned in very strong terms what it described as the “shameful victimisation and suspension” of three young students, namely Ayodele Aduwo, Mide Gbadegesin, and Nice Linus, by the University of Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State for holding placards that read “No To Fee Hike” during a students’ gathering last year.

University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State

In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, by its Media and Communications Officer, Robert Egbe, CAPPA said Aduwo and Gbadegesin were suspended for four semesters after their appearance before the university’s Central Disciplinary Committee on July 14, 2025.

The organisation described their suspension as the tragic climax of a year-long campaign of intimidation and harassment by university authorities.

“These young people, despite their stellar academic records and contributions to the improvement of their academic environment, have been repeatedly arrested, assaulted, and vilified by the university management and security operatives acting on explicit orders.

“Only a few months ago, Ms. Nice Linus demonstrated her credibility when she was elected by majority votes as a legislator on the UI Student Representative Council. Rather than respecting the democratic choice of her peers, university officials revoked her mandate and forcibly removed her from the venue, citing a pending disciplinary case as justification.

“The university’s Deputy Registrar, Tijani I. Musa, who supervised the election, claimed that students with ongoing disciplinary cases cannot contest. Yet the UI Student Union Constitution clearly stipulates that only students found guilty of gross misconduct can be disqualified.

“Ms. Nice has not been found guilty of any crime but remains on trial. We have no doubt she now faces the same brutal fate as her colleagues at the hands of an unjust and highly biased panel,” CAPPA noted.

The organisation accused the university of using authoritarian tactics to stifle legitimate dissent, arguing that the suspensions violate the constitutional rights to freedom of thought and expression, as guaranteed under Sections 38 and 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“Universities are meant to be sanctuaries of free inquiry and rigorous debate. They are spaces where new ideas should bloom and where students are trained to question, to challenge, and to imagine a better society.

“The despotic decision of the University of Ibadan against these young students is a direct betrayal of its mission to nurture independent minds,” CAPPA stated.

“The backdrop to these suspensions is as sad as it is revealing. Over the past year, the University of Ibadan, like many other public tertiary institutions across the country, has turned public education into a business. School fees have soared by nearly 500 to 1,000 percent, jumping from N69,000 to as high as N412,000 for certain courses.

“This brutal increase has pushed students from working-class families to the edge, forcing many to abandon their dreams of higher education. At this same university, only a few months ago, reports revealed that female students are increasingly selling their eggs to fertility clinics just to generate income and, by extension, survive on campus. This shocking situation is a painful reality of how deeply exploitative and dehumanising this system has become,” said Zikora Ibeh, CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director

“Rather than address these urgent issues,” Ibeh said, the university has chosen to “pour resources into surveillance and repression, while neglecting student welfare and its responsibility to promote a truly empowering environment for all.”

“Ayodele Aduwo, Mide Gbadegesin, and Nice Linus are not troublemakers. They are principled scholars whose only ‘crime’ is demanding a fair and humane education system. Their leadership and bravery should be celebrated, not criminalised. Their actions embodied the highest ideals of democratic citizenship. By punishing them, the university is sending a chilling message that ‘zombieism’ is the price of staying safe,” the statement added.

CAPPA called for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the suspended students and held the university administration responsible for any harm and trauma they might suffer

“We call on civil society organisations, labour unions, human rights defenders, UI Alumni, and all people of conscience to rise in defence of these students and the broader principle of academic freedom. The shrinking civic space in Nigeria cannot be ignored. Our universities must return to their fundamental mission of expanding horizons, fostering debate, and preparing young people to build a just and equitable society,” the statement noted.

The group lamented that the University of Ibadan, once seen as a bastion of intellectual courage, now appears to be tarnishing its image. “Its prestige was built by generations who stood firm against injustice and tyranny. Today, that legacy is being dragged through the mud by administrators who fear young minds that think and speak freely,” the statement observed.

“CAPPA will continue to stand with Ayodele, Mide, and Nice. We will amplify their voices and carry their struggle to every forum possible.

“We urge every well-meaning Nigerian to rise up in condemnation of this injustice,” the statement concluded.

COREN seeks FCT, states’ collaboration in curbing engineering failures

Michael Simire
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COREN seeks FCT, states’ collaboration in curbing engineering failures

Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has sought the collaboration of states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in addressing the challenge of non-compliance with standards, leading to engineering failures.

COREN
Mrs. Margaret Oguntala, President, Nigerian Society of Engineers; and Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, President, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, at the 33rd COREN Engineering Assembly, on Tuesday in Abuja

The COREN President, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, made the call at the 33rd COREN Engineering Assembly on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Abuja.

The theme for the 2025 Assembly was “Advancing Quality Engineering Services and Businesses in Nigeria-Professional Compliance and Remuneration.”

According to Abubakar, the theme came to bear, focusing on key issues of professionalism, compliance and remuneration while delivering quality engineering services and businesses.

He said that COREN, as a regulatory body, had the mandate to regulate and control the engineering education, training and practice of engineering in all its aspects and ramifications.

He explained that COREN’s call to action, emphasised the importance of collaboration in ensuring that engineering projects are executed in accordance with established codes and standards.

He said that Technical Committees (STCs) and Expatriate Monitoring Committees (EMCs) were inaugurated in 22 states, with the corresponding inspectorates to ensure monitoring and regulation of engineering practices.

“COREN is assidulously working to cover the 36 states and the FCT before the end of 2026.

“So, I call on captains of industries, state governments and the Minister of FCT, Nyesome Wike, to join hands with COREN technical committees in the states, expatriate monitoring committees and other sectorial regulators.

“This is to curb the dangerous trends of non-compliance with codes and standards leading to engineering failures occurring in the various sectors.

“The trends have caused loss of lives, properties, investments and loss of confidence in the engineering professionals,” he said.

Abubakar said that achieving the target would advance quality engineering services and businesses in Nigeria.

The COREN Registrar, Prof. Okorie Uche, said the assembly is a platform that brought together a cross-section of Nigeria’s engineering community both locally and internationally for reflection, connection, and forward thinking.

According to Uche, the theme for the year’s assembly is urgent as it speaks directly to the core to quality engineering services that meet both local and global standards.

“It is also about professionalism that reflects ethical conduct, technical excellence, accountability, compliance with regulations with potent public safety, enhance confidence, and ensure order in practice,” he said.

Uche said COREN recognised that ensuring quality and professionalism in engineering practice should not be separated from the business.

He, therefore, said it is the collective duty of engineers to confront these challenges of non-compliance, quackery and forced service delivery.

The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Barth NNaji, Chief Executive of Geometric Power Group, urged engineers to forge partnership with the government.

He said such partnership would ensure that Nigeria, not only keeps pace with global advances, but leads in innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development.

“We live in an era marked by rapid technological evolution; robotics, renewable energy, smart infrastructure, block chain, and the Internet.

“The world is changing rapidly and so must we.

“This calls for Nigerian engineering community to embrace continuous learning, to be agile, and to lead the adoption of emerging technologies in ways that suit our local context.

“We must build Nigerian solutions to Nigerian problems with Nigerian hands and minds.”

Nnaji, therefore, called on engineers to move beyond routine practices and become strategic thinkers to interpret global trends and local demands.

By Angela Atabo

West African activists push for climate justice

Michael Simire
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West African activists push for climate justice

Environmental justice advocates have called on leaders across West Africa to unite against environmental degradation and resist the commodification of nature.

HOMEF
Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Dr Nnimmo Bassey, speaking at the West Africa Climate Justice Roundtable in Abuja

The advocates made the call on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Abuja in separate interviews on the sidelines of the West Africa Climate Justice Roundtable.

The dialogue was part of preparations for the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) coming up in Brazil.

The Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Dr Nnimmo Bassey, said that Africa should demand the recognition and payment of climate debt.

He explained that western countries that exploited resources in Africa and destroyed the environment in the process should be made to pay.

“African countries should demand for the recognition and payment of climate debt because the continent has been raped for hundreds of years and it is time for someone to pay for it.

“Climate financing will not do it, it is a pre-colonial, colonial and ongoing climate debt, it should be recognise for what it is and we should demand for it.

“We must demand that our environment is treated with respect, our people have the right to live with dignity,” he said.

Bassey said that there is need for climate justice for Nigeria with regard to gas flaring, oil spillage and an audit of the entire oil producing belt.

Also speaking, Mr Kwami Kpondzo, Team Lead from the Centre for Environmental Justice in Togo, said that countries across West Africa face a common plight.

He said that pollution and environmental destruction were caused by oil and gas extraction, large-scale mining, and industrial plantations, destruction of biodiversity, polluted waters, loss of community land across the subregion.

The activist warned against the increasing use of monoculture plantations such as palm oil and eucalyptus, promoted under carbon market schemes.

According to him, these plantations are marketed as climate solutions but are destroying livelihoods and ecosystems.

Ahead of the COP30, Kpondzo called for a united front among grassroots, agroecology, gender justice, and anti-extraction movements across West Africa.

“We cannot fight in isolation, we must speak with one voice, because climate change is connected to agriculture, to food security, to women’s rights, to everything,” he said.

Kpondzo said that, as activists, they were not waiting for world leaders to change the system, saying that they will continue to raise voices, build movements, and demand justice, for silence in the face of oppression was not an option.

By EricJames Ochigbo

UN Climate Change launches new report on advancing a ‘Just Transition’ in climate policy

Michael Simire
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UN Climate Change launches new report on advancing a ‘Just Transition’ in climate policy

As the world accelerates action to address climate change, the question is no longer whether to pursue a just transition – but how to embed it meaningfully into national climate strategies.

Simon Stiell
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change

To help answer that question, the Katowice Committee of Experts on the Impacts of the Implementation of Response Measures (KCI), with the support of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, released a technical paper on Tuesday, July 15, 2025: “Just Transitions in National Climate Frameworks and Climate Policies: Experiences in Alignment, Planning and Progress Tracking”.

The report tracks progress on just transitions and examines how countries are integrating its principles into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategies (LT-LEDS).

The concept of a just transition acknowledges that while the shift to a low-emission economy is necessary to combat climate change, it can also create significant challenges for certain regions, industries, and workers. So a just transition means managing the shift to a low-emission economy in a way that is fair and inclusive, ensuring that no one is negatively impacted by the transition.

“Climate action and just transition pathways are not separate endeavors but intrinsically linked components of broader sustainable development goals,” writes UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell in the report’s foreword.

The report reviews how just transition appears in national climate strategies both explicitly and implicitly, with the reference to specific themes that fall under the multidimensional concept of just transition – including jobs, gender, youth, economic diversification, inequality, and stakeholder engagement.

The report also examines policy actions in high-emission sectors like coal, oil and gas, and mobility – highlighting national and private sector approaches to support just transition, to identify best practices and foster shared learning.

To help track progress and ensure accountability, the report introduces a comprehensive monitoring framework for just transition. This new tool supports governments and companies in evaluating their efforts across the four dimensions: distributional, procedural, restorative and recognition. 

Originating from the labour movement in the late 1970s, the concept of a just transition has gained traction over the past decade as countries seek to address the social and economic implications of climate action; however, evidence suggests that while the ambition is widely recognized, its practical integration into national climate planning remains uneven. For instance, the paper finds that only 26% of NDCs explicitly reference just transition, and few elaborate beyond a basic mention. In contrast, 65% of LT-LEDS refer to it more directly, though the depth varies widely. 

The report addresses a key gap in climate policy planning, where socioeconomic impacts and just transition considerations often remain secondary due to limited capacity and resources. Many countries continue to face challenges in translating just transition principles into concrete policies that are inclusive, actionable, and measurable.

The paper is available here, offering open access to all stakeholders working to advance inclusive, long-term climate strategies.

This initiative reflects UN Climate Change’s continued commitment to supporting Parties in designing response measures that are fair, data-informed, and rooted in real-world needs – ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition to a low-carbon future.

Agency launches comprehensive flood control operation in Asaba

Michael Simire
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Agency launches comprehensive flood control operation in Asaba

The Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA) has launched a comprehensive flood control operation in Asaba, the state capital, to mitigate flooding and ensure a cleaner, healthier environment.

Sheriff Oborevwori
Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State

In a speech at the event on Monday, July 14, 2025, the Director-General of the agency, Chief Patrick Ukah, reiterated the agency’s commitment to building a cleaner, flood-resilient, and sustainable capital territory for all residents.

Ukah described the exercise as a critical aspect of the government’s flood management and urban sanitation plan.

He further said that it was aimed at mitigating flooding and ensuring a cleaner, healthier environment in Asaba.

Ukah said that the agency was embarking on the desilting of the drains and drainages, clearing of overgrown grasses, and evacuation of resultant silts and debris to government-approved dumpsites.

“This effort is part of the agency’s ongoing strategy to improve stormwater flow, reduce the risk of flooding, and enhance environmental sanitation.

”This exercise is vital to safeguarding lives, property, and public infrastructure.

”By ensuring our drains are cleared, we’re reducing flood risks and improving environmental health across the capital territory,” Ukah said.

He called on residents to support the operation by refraining from indiscriminate waste disposal and maintaining good environmental practices.

The flood control effort is being supervised by Mr. Isaac Nwosu, the agency’s Head of Environment.

Nwosu is also coordinating the agency’s field operations to ensure quality and timely execution.

He said: “We are deploying teams across major areas to thoroughly desilt drains and evacuate debris to approved dump sites.

”It’s a coordinated effort with strong community involvement.”

Environmental health officers, sanitation workers, waste management contractors, and community volunteers are all participating in the exercise.

By Mercy Neme

GIZ unveils hi-tech device for waste disposal

Michael Simire
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GIZ unveils hi-tech device for waste disposal

German Development Agency (GIZ) has unveiled a transformative high-tech device to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of waste sorting in Lagos State.

Waste pickers
Waste pickers

The launch of the device and signing of the partnership agreement with the Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN) took place on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Lagos.

The event, which was described as a transformative waste disposal management, had in attendance officials of GIZ, top dignitaries from plastic manufacturing companies, WAPAN members and other stakeholders.

Speaking on the idea behind the launch of the project and device, GIZ representative, Markus Wauschkuhn, emphasised that effective sorting of waste in Nigeria has a huge financial gain yet untapped.

“Nigeria generates an estimated 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually, with a large portion ending up in landfills or informal dump sites.

“Informal waste pickers play a critical role in recovering recyclable materials, yet they often lack access to proper tools, training, and support to maximise the value of their work.

“As global and national conversations shift toward circular economies and inclusIve green growth, empowering waste collectors particularly women and youths has become increasingly essential.

“The Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development for Decent Employment in Nigeria programme, implemented by GIZ, is committed to supporting locally driven, inclusive economic models,” he said.

Wauschkuhn added that GIZ recognised the potential in the waste management sector and the environmental/social impact which led the development of the device.

“We have also resolved to enhance productivity, improve incomes, and promote decent employment to informal workers.

“To this end, GIZ initiated a partnership with the WAPAN, German technology firm trinamiX, and BASE West Africa to promote improved waste sorting practices with handheld sorting devices.

“These devices, developed with advanced German technology and tested in Nigeria, offer a transformative solution to inefficiencies in the waste collection value chain.

“At the heart of this collaboration is a shared goal to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of waste sorting, leading to higher earnings for waste collectors through better-quality, hand-sorted materials.

Wauschkuhn also emphasised that the project would begin with a pilot phase designed to build upon insights from previous data testing efforts.

“As part of this pilot, WAPAN members will be equipped with handheld waste sort devices, developed by trinamiX, a German tech company, and locally tested in Kano by BASF West Africa in collaboration with WAPAN.

“The devices use advanced sensing technology to accurately identify and sort a wide range materials, including plastics, textiles, carpets, polyurethane mattresses, and photovoltaic modules.

“The initiative aims to reach all 774 Local Government Areas across Nigeria. The project not only provides technical tools but also delivers targeted capacity-building interventions to enhance the skills of waste collectors.

“It particularly targets women and youth, identified as entrepreneurs with strong social and economic impact potential. Through this partnership, GIZ continues to promote innovative, community-driven solutions, systemic challenges in the waste management sector,” he said.

Also speaking, WAPAN Executive from Kano State, Mr. Aliyu Auwal, said the introduction of the device as a pilot project in Kano has been helpful and rewarding.

“This is a device that I know will revolutionise waste collection in Nigeria.

“It has been tested and certified and well proven to deliver especially in sorting out different types of plastics used by different manufacturers even money made from polymer,” he said.

The event also included signing of a partnership programme in which WAPAN members would be trained on the use of the hand device and ways to generate more incomes for themselves.

Other dignitaries that attended the event include: trinamiX representative, Susanna Loecher, representative from the German Consulate in Nigeria, Dochen Schindelarz, and a director from BASF, Jean Marc.

By Mercy Omoike

How Buhari elevated Nigeria’s global standing in climate change diplomacy – Onuigbo

Michael Simire
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How Buhari elevated Nigeria’s global standing in climate change diplomacy – Onuigbo

The South-East representative on the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mr. Sam Onuigbo, has described the late President Muhammadu Buhari as a transformative leader who elevated Nigeria’s status on the global stage.

Buhari COP26
Late President Muhammadu Buhari

In a statement issued on Monday, July 14, 2025, in Abuja, Onuigbo expressed deep sorrow over Buhari’s passing in a London hospital on Sunday, July 13, saying the late president’s death “leaves a huge vacuum in the country.”

Onuigbo, a former two-term member of the House of Representatives, lauded Buhari’s leadership, particularly his role in enacting the landmark Climate Change Act.

He noted that the Bill had previously failed in the 6th, 7th, and 8th National Assemblies but was finally signed into law by Buhari on Nov. 17, 2021, during the 9th Assembly.

“By that singular act and focus on proactive legislation, the former President made Nigeria stand tall in the international community.

“His death has robbed the country of a rich source of international pride,” Onuigbo stated.

The former lawmaker, who currently chairs the Security, Climate Change and Special Interventions Committee of the NEDC, said Buhari’s decision to sign the Climate Change Bill, in spite of internal resistance, showed his dedication to forward-thinking policy and international cooperation.

Sam Onuigbo
Rep. Sam Onuigbo

“The Climate Change Act created the National Council on Climate Change and established a legal framework for Nigeria’s sustainable development and net-zero emissions target by 2050–2070,” he added.

Onuigbo emphasised that, without Buhari’s decisive intervention, Nigeria would have remained on the sidelines of critical global discussions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“Thanks to Buhari, Nigeria did not attend the COP27 Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, empty-handed. We actively participated, with our heads held high.

“His leadership helped shape discussions that led to the establishment of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), designed to assist vulnerable nations affected by climate change,” he said.

He also recalled that Buhari was particularly inspired by the outcomes of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, which motivated his prompt action to sign the Climate Change Bill.

Onuigbo expressed his gratitude to members of the 9th National Assembly, especially then Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, now Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, and Senate President Ahmad Lawan, for their roles in supporting the legislation.

“President Buhari will be sorely missed. His contributions to Nigeria’s climate policy and international image will endure as part of his legacy,” Onuigbo said.

By Aderogba George

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