A global survey of 844 sustainability experts across 72 countries, conducted by GlobeScan in collaboration with ERM and Volans, finds that judicial action is now seen as one of the most powerful tools civil society can use to drive sustainability outcomes in the near term.
This view has gained significant traction in light of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s historic advisory opinion on climate change issued in July 2025, which declares that a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a fundamental human right.
International Court of Justice
The ICJ’s landmark ruling affirms that countries have legal obligations to prevent environmental harm under international law. Crucially, it finds that states failing to meet their climate commitments are in breach of international law, and that states must cooperate to achieve concrete emissions reduction targets.
This reframes climate action as a legal imperative rather than a policy preference, and elevates the strategic importance of litigation, legal systems, and accountability mechanisms in the global sustainability agenda.
Alongside legal avenues, experts also point to education and leadership development, policy advocacy, and media scrutiny as top civil society strategies to accelerate progress. In contrast, less structured or symbolic approaches, such as NGO campaigns, public protests, or boycotts, are seen as relatively less impactful in achieving systemic change.
What does this mean?
The ICJ’s advisory opinion may be a turning point for climate justice. Though technically not legally binding, it sends a powerful message that could reshape international climate negotiations and jurisprudence. For the more than 3,000 pending climate lawsuits globally, the ICJ’s affirmation of legal obligations offers fresh momentum and potential legal precedent for holding governments and corporations accountable.
For businesses and policymakers, this means climate litigation risk is rising. The advisory opinion may also influence the tone of negotiations at COP30, fueling increased pressure for enforceable targets and climate finance for vulnerable countries. Looking ahead, legal action may no longer be a last resort and could instead become a primary lever in the sustainability toolbox.
Companies would be wise to monitor evolving legal norms, proactively align with international commitments, and embed climate risk into their governance and strategy before courts and public pressure force their hand.
Following the powerful earthquake originating off the coast of Russia, UNESCO’s early warning systems triggered a tsunami alert within just 10 minutes. Thanks to this global monitoring system which UNESCO has been deploying for more than 20 years, as well as the organisation’s efforts to raise awareness among coastal populations and lead research in ocean science, millions of people were warned ahead of the coming danger.
On the night of July 29-30, 2025, an 8.8-magnitude undersea earthquake struck off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. This exceptionally powerful earthquake was the strongest recorded since the Tōhoku earthquake in Japan in 2011, and one of the ten strongest since 1900.
Ms Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO
Just 10 minutes after the earthquake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning System, coordinated by UNESCO, issued an initial warning covering the areas most at risk, particularly the Russian and Japanese coasts. This warning was then relayed by national centres and enabled the immediate implementation of evacuation plans in several countries.
Within 20 minutes of the earthquake, this system provided detailed forecasts of expected flood heights, and the alert was then extended to other countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. Many of these countries, including China, Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines, Peru, the United States and New Zealand, then issued national alerts or carried out preventive evacuations.
“This timely alert once again demonstrates the crucial role of international scientific cooperation in the face of natural hazards. UNESCO oversees the global tsunami warning system, puts ocean science to work to protect millions of lives, and helps communities prepare for this risk,”said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.
In response to the potential damage caused by the tsunami, the Director-General has pledged UNESCO’s support to coastal communities, particularly in preserving and restoring their natural and cultural heritage.
A responsive system that saves lives
Established after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami which claimed more than 220,000 lives, the global tsunami warning system coordinated by UNESCO relies on a dense network of sensors, tide gauges, and regional warning centres. This system is based on an alert chain combining scientific expertise, international coordination, and the rapid response capacity of local authorities. It enables the smooth and efficient flow of information: from analysis centers to governments, then from authorities to exposed populations.
This system now covers the Pacific, Indian, Caribbean, Northeast Atlantic, and Mediterranean ocean basins.
Alerting, while also preparing and understanding
Beyond alerting communities when tsunamis occur, UNESCO is working to strengthen the resilience of coastal populations through several key initiatives. UNESCO’s Tsunami Ready programme, implemented in 43 countries, trains coastal communities in tsunami risk prevention through evacuation plans, information campaigns, and local warning systems. Full-scale evacuation drills are regularly organised to test the effectiveness of warning systems and raise awareness among populations.
The organisation also actively supports scientific research in this field to better understand how tsunamis occur, move and impact coastal areas. Risk modelling, ocean observation and seabed mapping thus enable better management of these ocean disasters.
The Oyo State House of Assembly Minority Leader, Waliu Salami, has raised a matter of urgent public importance, appealing to Governor Seyi Makinde to come to the aid of the people of Kisi and Igboho communities.
Scene of the collapsed bridge
While reading the Motion on the Floor of the House on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, Salami said the bridges there collapsed due to heavy downpour in the early hours of Tuesday, July 22, 2025, leading to devastating floods that ravaged the ongoing construction of the Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho Road.
Furthermore, the House has directed the Chairman of Irepo Local Government Area to urgently swing into action to rehabilitate the collapsed bridge along Ajangba to National Open University Road, Kisi, to ease vehicular movement and reinforce economic activities within the area.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State House of Assembly has passed the Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025. The passage followed consideration of the report submitted by the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during yesterday’s plenary session, presided over by Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin.
The law makers reconvened on the Tuesday, July 29 after their last adjournment last week and passed the council of oba further amendments bill 2025 after the consideration of the house committee on local government and chieftaincy matter.
The lawmakers while applauding the report, the clause 5 of section 28 of the Chieftaincy Law was amended which will enable chairmanship and deputy chairmanship be rotated across the seven geo-political zones of Oyo State.
Also, the House in deliberation unanimously agreed to pass the bill to effect the amendment as to enhance traditional leadership skills in Oyo State.
On Tuesday, the House approved the committee reports on Civil Service Commission Nominees, and petitions raised by some Post-Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) Staff who have been denied salary since July, respectively.
Southeast and East Asia plays a central role in the global effort to tackle plastic pollution, given its substantial share of the global economy, strategic position in plastics value chains and rapidly rising plastics demand, according to a new OECD report.
The Regional Plastics Outlook for Southeast and East Asia – focusing on ASEAN Plus Three (APT) countries, comprising the 10 ASEAN Member States as well as the People’s Republic of China (China), Japan and Korea – shows that plastics use in the region has surged almost nine-fold since 1990, reaching 152 million tonnes (Mt) in 2022.
OECD Secretary-General, Mathias Cormann
The region now accounts for almost one-third of global plastics use, with annual per capita use ranging from 32 kg in lower middle-income countries to over 100 kg in many upper middle- and high-income countries in the APT region. In 2022, the region leaked 8.4 Mt of plastics into the environment – over one-third of the global total, including 3.5 Mt from ASEAN Member States and 4.9 Mt from China. Plastic leakage refers to any plastic that enters the terrestrial or aquatic environment, resulting from inadequate collection and disposal. This includes plastic waste, such as packaging or beverage cups, that is littered or openly dumped.
The report finds that by 2050, plastics use is projected to reach 280 Mt per year, with plastic leakage projected to increase by 68% to 14.1 Mt per year. The report presents a High Stringency scenario that shows how comprehensive action across the plastic lifecycle could reduce use by 28%, more than quadruple regional recycling rates to 54%, and reduce mismanaged waste by 97% in the region by 2050, compared to Baseline projections.
“Southeast and East Asia can become a global model in tackling plastic pollution and advancing circular economy solutions for plastic waste,” said OECD Secretary-General, Mathias Cormann. “With stronger regional co-operation, ambitious policies and targeted investments, the region can almost completely eliminate plastic leakage by 2050, delivering lasting benefits for people, the environment and the global economy.”
The estimated macroeconomic cost of a High Stringency scenario – equivalent to 0.8% of regional GDP in 2050 – is unevenly distributed. ASEAN lower middle-income countries face a steeper cost (2.8% of GDP on average), underscoring the need for enhanced regional co-operation and international support.
Despite challenges, including rising waste generation that outpaces waste management in a region that is highly diverse in terms of income levels, plastics use and capacity to manage it, significant progress is being made. Most APT countries have adopted national action plans on plastic pollution and stepped-up regional co-operation. The average recycling rate in the region (12%) already exceeds the global average (10%), and efforts are underway to improve waste segregation at source, reduce littering and increase the use of recycled materials in manufacturing.
Effective strategies can be further tailored to local contexts and supported by investments in waste collection and recycling infrastructure, stronger regulatory frameworks, clear policy signals to unlock investments and support for the integration of informal waste workers.
The report was launched during a Green Talk LIVE webinar on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
Net carbon sinks from land use and forestry could fall by half if business as usual practices continue and would increase in line with climate plans only if new support is provided to developing countries
Carbon emission
Twenty-five per cent of emissions reductions pledged by countries rely on land-based carbon mitigation – and these reductions are in jeopardy, according to a new study published on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Nature journal Communications Earth & Environment.
Developing countries such as the DRC, Indonesia and Ethiopia’s ability to meet the land-based commitments in their climate plans – Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – are conditional on financial and institutional support being provided, which is currently lacking.
The research highlights how the scale of land-based carbon mitigation is invisible in the 2023 first Global Stocktake (GST), which closed at the end of UN Climate talks in Dubai. This new research helps close this information gap by systematically analysing, for the first time, how land was included in the last set of NDCs (NDC 2020), which detail planned emissions reductions to 2030.
The primary reason for the GST land blind spot is a conceptual disparity between how countries report land-use based greenhouse gases, and how global models compiled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – that are used as a benchmark under the Paris Agreement to track progress- are constructed for land. This lack of data comparability builds on previous studies showing net zero progress could be overblown by as much as 18% as a result.
Academics argue that reconciling these differences is crucial because land is the only sector currently capable of removing carbon at scale from the atmosphere, a necessary condition for reaching net zero CO2 and stabilising global temperatures.
The first GST highlighted the benchmarks to be hit by 2030 if the planet is to remain on track for the Paris Agreement temperature goals (1.5 and 2 degrees C). It is expected to be re-visited and expanded upon as part of UN Climate talks, COP30, in Brazil later this year. Governments now have to submit the next set of NDCs with enhanced ambition, based on the GST, by this September. This new analysis raises fresh concerns ahead of climate talks that new plans won’t include the necessary action to curb global emissions.
Giacomo Grassi, Bureau member of the IPCC task force on GHG inventories, said: “If Net Zero CO2 is the destination, which is needed to stabilise global temperatures, the scientific models are the navigation system we’re using to get there, and the car dashboard is what countries are using to check progress. A major problem that we already identified is that one is speaking in miles per hour, and the other in kilometers. We think we’re getting there faster than we are as a consequence.
“There’s a mismatch in the definition of what constitutes an anthropogenic forest carbon sink, i.e. the sink that can be counted towards meeting countries’ climate targets. This has crucial consequences for our ability to assess global climate progress in line with the Paris Agreement. If we don’t accurately assess where we are, we can’t accurately correct our trajectory towards net zero.”
Data analysed in the study shows that governments around the world are reporting that the net carbon sink has been slightly increasing globally. Meanwhile, climate impacts such as fires and droughts are putting at risk land’s ability to soak up carbon.
The paper finds for the first time that approximately two-thirds of the land-based pledges for 2030 stems from emissions reductions, largely from reduced deforestation, while one-third comes from the creation of new land sinks via tree planting and forest restoration
Dr. Rebekah Shirley, Deputy Director for Africa, World Resources Institute, said: “Countries in the Global South steward most of the planet’s standing forests and carbon sinks – yet are expected to shoulder global climate stability without equitable finance. Building robust, green and resilient economic pathways requires the fiscal space to invest in nature-based development, debt frameworks that reflect climate risks and nature benefits in resource allocation, and scaling solutions that help reward stewardship. COP30’s expected operationalisation of the Tropical Forest Finance Facility offers a historic opportunity to place nature, biodiversity, and resilience at the heart of the global climate agenda.”
Rosa M. Roman-Cuesta, lead author, said: “Our study highlights that in the second submission of countries’ pledges (NDC 2020), land remains a highly relevant global sector for mitigation, retaining a quarter of the global pledges. Without the active role of global land sinks in stabilizing the increase of emissions from other sectors, the goals of the Paris Agreement simply cannot be reached. Modelled pathways rely on large amounts of additional sinks to retain the 2C goal.
“While we reduce other sectors emissions, it is vital we ensure enough support and sustainable consumption patterns are promoted to tackle deforestation and enhance global land sinks. At the same time, retaining current and additional land sinks will become more challenging under worsening climate conditions, highlighting the risk of over-dependence on land sinks for mitigation progress.”
The 25% of emissions reductions coming from land in NDCs are mostly unlikely to happen without financial and institutional support being provided, according to the analysis. The authors highlight how current financial options, crucial to support global mitigation efforts, have been under-resourced for decades. This includes activities that were intended to fund forests, such as REDD+ mechanisms. Even with appropriate funding, land-related pledges by 2030 will have to compete with alternative land development programs, such as agro-commodity expansion, petrol operations, and mining.
Scientists argue that data translation between communities estimating land carbon emissions and removals is needed to address the current blind spot. They suggest that future Global Stocktakes should incorporate countries’ data on land, and enhanced monitoring and reporting.
There should also be apple-to-apple comparability between IPCC models and NDC commitments. While land and forests should be incorporated in economy-wide mitigation commitments, land-based pledges should be separated from other mitigation efforts to more easily understand their drivers and threats.
New emerging financial solutions such as the Tropical Forest Forever Facility are expected to be launched at the UN Climate Summit, COP30, in Brazil later this year. The fund aims to financially incentivise keeping forests standing.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Ltd has officially ruled out sale of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, reaffirming its commitment to completing high-graded rehabilitation and retention of the plant.
Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, announced this at a company-wide town hall meeting on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the NNPC Towers, Abuja. He stated that the position isn’t a shift. Rather, it is informed by ongoing detailed technical and financial reviews of the Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri refineries.
Group CEO NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari addressing the Company’s staff during a Townhall held at the NNPC Towers, in Abuja, on Tuesday
The ongoing review indicates that the earlier decision to operate the Port Harcourt refinery prior to full completion of its rehabilitation was ill-informed and sub-commercial, Ojulari said.
Although progress is being made on all three refineries, the emerging outlook calls for more advanced technical partnerships to complete and high-grade the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery. Thus, selling is highly unlikely as it would lead to further value erosion.
The announcement comes in the wake of widespread speculation following his remarks at the 2025 OPEC Seminar in Vienna, Austria, earlier this month, where he said during an interview with Bloomberg that “all options are on the table.” The comment sparked speculation and headlines about the future of the nation’s refining assets.
The declaration was received with applause from hundreds of staff attendees, who described the position as a renewed sense of business-focused direction across the organisation.
The town hall served as more than a performance update – it was an opportunity for candid and constructive engagement. The Executive Vice Presidents presented progress reports from the Upstream, Downstream, Finance, Business Services, Gas, Power, and New Energy businesses, highlighting operational achievements, ongoing reforms, and areas requiring attention.
In a tone marked by honesty and leadership, challenges and earlier missteps were acknowledged, and a clear roadmap was outlined for the journey ahead.
The announcement reinforces NNPC’s mandate as a strategic custodian of national energy infrastructure and reflects a firm resolve to deliver on the complete rehabilitation and long-term viability of Nigeria’s refineries. It also signals continuity in the Federal Government’s broader energy security objectives and a commitment to retaining critical assets under national control.
Feedback during and after the session revealed a workforce energised and aligned with the leadership’s vision. Described as “reassuring,” “transformational,” and “sustainable,” the atmosphere reflected an optimist outlook among employees and hopefulness about the company’s evolving strategic direction.
NNPC Ltd will continue to reposition itself as a commercially driven, professionally managed national energy company, grounded in transparency, focused on performance, and unwavering in its responsibility to its number one stakeholder group, Nigerians, Ojulari concluded.
Meanwhile, Mr. Yusuf Usman, a Director at NNPCL, has saidthat the company has drilled four oil wells in the Kolmani area of Bauchi State.
He also restated commitment of the company to the exploration and development of oil and gas resources in the northern region of the country.
Usman said this on Wednesday in Kaduna at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation’s two-day interactive Session on Government-Citizens Engagement.
“So far, the NNPCL has drilled four wells in the Kolmani area of Bauchi State, and is currently evaluating the appropriate technology to be deployed for the next phase of drilling operations.
“In support of President Tinubu’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, five CNG and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants are under construction in Kogi.
“These plants are expected to enhance gas supply and accessibility across the northern region,” Usman said while highlighting some of the achievements of the company under the Tinubu-led administration that benefited the north and other parts of the country.
Artists across the African continent are set to join forces in what appears to be a visionary new campaign – “All Power to The People – Pan-African Artists’ Pledge” – using the power of art to demand climate justice for African communities.
Backed by allied civil society organisations among them, Africans Rising, the Africa Just Transition Network and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, the collaborative campaign is grounded in six collective demands, namely:
Artists using murals to promote climate justice
End new coal, oil and gas exploration and expansion
Fairly phase out existing fossil fuel infrastructure
Fund a fair and fast transition to a people-centered, renewable-powered future grounded in justice
End energy poverty and deliver 100% clean renewable energy access for all
Climate reparations and ecological remediation for all communities and ecosystems pillaged by fossil fuel extraction
The campaign is being launched against the background of a worsening climate crisis, attributable to continued fossil fuel expansion by developed nations. The expansion of coal, oil and gas has not only failed to enrich and power the African continent, but has also fuelled violent conflicts, militarised territories, destroyed ecosystems, while exacerbating debt crises, human rights violations, underdevelopment, energy poverty, disease and injustice.
In light of these consequences unjustly and disproportionately suffered by African communities, the campaign urges more artists to join the pledge and utilise their voices, creativity and talents in solidarity with frontline communities.
African artists are called upon to make submissions of their original works and join the pledge on the website https://www.allpowertothepeople.art/. Selected artwork will be featured on the All Power to the People social media platform and have the opportunity to be publicly displayed at an exhibition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during Africa Climate Week and Summit in September.
Chosen artists will be invited to join the African Creative Action Network (ACAN), a vibrant and diverse network of artists, activists and supporters committed to using arts for social justice and community development.
The campaign comes just days after the historic International Court of Justice ruling affirming the legal obligations of States to prevent environmental harm, safeguard the rights and wellbeing of human beings, and cooperate internationally on climate action. The ruling laid the foundation for greater climate accountability, paving the way for restorative climate action and reparations.
Seble Samuel, Head of Africa Campaigns & Advocacy, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: “Our continent is locked into an energy hypocrisy. Africa is home to the world’s largest renewable energy potential, and yet Sub-Saharan Africa is home to over 80% of the world’s unelectrified population. This bleak energy poverty exposes how much the fossil fuel industry has failed our continent by design – shipping wealth and energy out of our continent over decades while leaving pillaged ecosystems in its wake.
“To break free from this fossil fuelled entrapment, the power, sounds, visuals, and rhythm of the arts are indispensable. We need to reimagine our continent, with an end to the toxic legacies of the fossil fuel industry that have treated our communities and territories as sacrifice zones, and a new dawn of universal energy access with abundant renewable energy in the hands of the people.”
Marina Agortimevor, Coordinator, Africa Just Transition Network, said: “As legal pressure mounts on States following the recent ICJ ruling, people power is also building. Through this campaign, artists are generating public momentum for climate action and reparations for our communities. We need all players on board to challenge the continued exploitation of Africa’s resources and people by fossil fuel interests and demand justice, energy access, and dignity for African people.”
Ancel Langwa, Movement Building and Support Lead Officer, Africans Rising, said: “Artists’ collective expression can powerfully amplify the voices of vulnerable communities and ensure that those bearing the greatest burdens of the climate crisis are no longer ignored. This is why artists are rising to honour the lived experiences, hope and resilience of frontline communities.
“We envision a safe, liveable future for our people, powered by sun and wind, rooted in justice and dignity. This future which artists imagine and embody in their art, is within reach. What is needed is greater political will from governments, to address the climate crisis and bold, transformative efforts such as the proposed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
The launch of the campaign comes only a few weeks ahead of the second edition of the Africa Climate Summit, which will bring together over 45 governments in Addis Ababa to discuss the continent’s climate action agenda and sustainable development priorities.
Natural disasters such as wildfires, storms, and earthquakes had caused $131 billion of damage worldwide in the first half of 2025.
This is the second-highest total for a first-half period since 1980, according to German reinsurer Munich Re.
The California wildfires alone caused an estimated $53 billion worth of damage in January 2025
The California wildfires alone caused an estimated $53 billion worth of damage in January, making them the costliest fire disaster on record, according to Munich Re.
In general, the U.S. was hit particularly hard, with numerous severe storms and tornadoes pushing total losses to $92 billion, representing 70 per cent of global damages.
The deadliest event was a March 28 earthquake in Myanmar, which claimed 4,500 lives.
Scientists at Munich Re say weather-related natural disasters are becoming more frequent and severe due to global warming.
Europe avoids major disasters except the Swiss landslide.
Europe was spared major disasters and saw comparatively modest losses of around 5 billion dollars.
Still, Tobias Grimm, Chief Climatologist at Munich Re, warned against complacency.
“It was luck that Europe avoided major weather catastrophes in the first half of the year.’’
One exception was a May landslide in Switzerland’s Valais Canton, where a rock and ice avalanche buried the village of Blatten and destroyed 130 houses.
This has caused $500 million in estimated damages.
Munich Re said thawing alpine permafrost due to climate change is increasing geological risks in mountain regions.
Of the $131 billion damage total, 80 billion dollars was insured, both numbers well above the inflation-adjusted average for recent decades.
Only the first half of 2011, marked by Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, saw higher overall losses.
The Federal Government has commended the Dangote Petroleum Refinery for its outstanding engineering achievements and its significant investment in developing young Nigerian talent.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, lauded the Refinery for its dual focus on world-class infrastructure and exceptional investment in human capital during an official visit to the state-of-the-art facility in Lagos.
Vice President, Oil & Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; and President/CE, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, in a group photograph with Quality Assurance Officers during the minister’s visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Lagos, at the weekend
Speaking during a tour of the refinery, the Minister expressed admiration not only for the vast scale of the physical infrastructure, describing it as “bricks, mortar, and pipelines of extraordinary ambition”, but also for the calibre of talent operating it.
“We are not just appreciating the scale of the infrastructure: the bricks, mortar, and pipelines,” the Minister said. “We are equally impressed by the investment in human capital. It is deeply inspiring to see young Nigerians, many of whom have never left the country, operating world-class equipment with remarkable skill and professionalism.”
The Minister, a senior university lecturer, highlighted the significance of such a development in the context of national capacity-building. “As a lecturer myself, I take great pride in witnessing their excellence in engineering. It is nothing short of exceptional,” she added.
She also praised Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and the visionary behind the project, for his continued commitment to industrial transformation in Nigeria. “Listening to Alhaji Dangote speak about this project is always a source of inspiration. This is not just a refinery – it is a bold statement of what is possible. This is Lagos, Nigeria, and there is truly nowhere else in the world with a facility of this kind at this scale.”
Vice President, Oil & Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Edwin Devakumar, highlighted the world-class capabilities of the 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) Dangote Petroleum Refinery, during a presentation to the Minister.
According to Devakumar, the refinery produces Euro-V quality petrol, diesel, jet fuel, and polypropylene, meeting 100% of Nigeria’s domestic demand for refined petroleum products, with surplus available for export. He emphasised that the refinery incorporates the latest technologies to ensure environmental compliance while delivering clean, globally competitive fuels.
He noted that the refinery includes a fully self-sufficient marine terminal for crude oil offtake and product loading, as well as an integrated steam and power generation system with a 435MW capacity – enough to supply the entire electricity demand of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, which covers Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, and Ekiti.
“We are one of the very few companies in the world to have executed both a petroleum refinery and a petrochemical complex directly as an EPC contractor,” he said. “We sent engineers for overseas training and employed around 60,000 skilled Nigerians during construction, offering them valuable experience in various aspects of construction, testing, and commissioning.”
Devakumar added that many of the Nigerian engineers, technicians, and others trained by the company are now working as expatriates not just across Africa, but as far afield as the United Arab Emirates, contributing to Nigeria’s foreign remittance inflow.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Fertiliser Limited have been widely commended for their commitment to hiring and nurturing Nigerian engineers. Most recently, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), led by its Executive Secretary, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, praised the company for its efforts in developing young engineering talent.
Similarly, the League of Engineering Bodies in Nigeria, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), the Association of Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN), and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), expressed admiration during a visit to the facilities. The delegation lauded the active engagement of Nigerian engineers in the construction, commissioning, and operation of the plants.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the largest single-train refineries globally, has been hailed as a game-changing project set to enhance Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products, reduce import dependence, and stimulate economic growth.
Stakeholders in the Niger Delta have called for urgent policies and framework to check carbon offsetting in the region.
The call is contained in a communique issued at the end of the Niger Delta Regional Multi-Stakeholders Dialogue on Carbon Offset on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Asaba, Delta State.
Carbon emission
According to them, there is a need for an urgent action to be taken to address the challenges facing the region.
The dialogue brought together representatives from government agencies, civil society organisations (CSOs), traditional leaders, private sector actors, academia, development partners, and community-based groups.
The communique identified several key issues that needed to be addressed in order to promote carbon offsetting initiatives in the region.
According to them, the issues include absence of policies and frameworks specifically designed to promote carbon offsetting initiatives in the region.
The communique also identified lack of awareness at the grassroots level regarding the concept, benefits, and relevance of carbon offsetting to local communities and the environment as well as a critical gap in political will.
The communique said that this had continued to hinder development and implementation of initiatives aimed at promoting carbon offsetting in the region.
The stakeholders highlighted several recommendations to address these challenges.
According to them, the enactment of regional laws and policies will help address carbon emissions and promote effective carbon offsetting strategies in the Niger Delta.
The stakeholders also recommended that the inclusion of youths, women, and persons with disabilities must be actively included in community-level discussions and decision-making processes related to carbon emissions and environmental governance.
They also urged that carbon emissions and environmental sustainability should be integrated into school curricula at all levels to foster early awareness and responsibility.
The stakeholders pledged to work to build strategic synergies with government at all levels to secure the necessary political will for the implementation of carbon offset initiatives.
The stakeholders reiterated their commitment to working together to advance the outcomes of the dialogue.
They pledged to collaborate with government agencies, CSOs, and other stakeholders to promote carbon offsetting and environmental sustainability in the region.
They also pledged to improve synergy in support of relevant government agencies, CSOs, and departments responsible for ensuring enforcement of carbon offsetting policies and initiatives.
Some of the stakeholders who spoke to NAN emphasised the need for urgent action to be taken to address the situation.
Prof. Festus Mbalisj of the Department of Adult and Non-Formal Education, University of Port Harcourt, said the local solution climate resilience in the Niger Delta region was agro-ecology.
Mbalisi also stressed the need for the Federal Government to be serious with the enforcement of the dateline for gas flaring.
According to him, government has been shifting deadlines since 1984 and now deadline has been shifted to 2030.
”Though there are sanctions for defaulters but it is as good as there is no fine.
”The fine is encouraging the multi-national companies to flare more gas, but when there is stringent fine the oil companies will not prefer to pay.
”They will now do the exploitation in line with global best practices with technology that will not flare,” he said.
He also stressed the need to hold oil companies accountable to clean up the Niger Delta region.
The National Conflict and Policy Analyst for Search for Common Ground, Mr. Andy Nkemneme, envisioned a future where the Niger Delta region would be peaceful, developed, and environmentally sustainable.
He said that the region had long been plagued by violence and conflict, hindering its development and affecting the lives of its people.
”Search for Common Ground, funded by the European Union, has been implementing a projects aimed at preventing violence and conflict in the region.
”As part of this project, a stakeholder dialogue was convened to discuss the topic of carbon offsetting in the Niger Delta.
“The event was designed to bring together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss the findings of research on carbon offsetting in the region,” he said.
Nkemneme said the research highlighted the potential for carbon offsetting in the region , particularly in the area of gas flaring.
”The region has significant opportunities for offsetting gas, which could be sold in the market to generate revenue for environmental development.
“However, the research also emphasised the need for sustainable practices, such as reforestation and the use of renewable energy sources to protect the environment.”
He said that by working together, stakeholders could identify solutions to the region’s challenges and create a better future for its people.
The stakeholders meeting was organisised by an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), Search for Common Ground (SFCG), and its consortium partners.
The partners are Democracy Network (SDN), and Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND).
