The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) will begin its 2025 planting season in July, distributing over five million date palm seedlings nationwide.
Director-General, NAGGW, Alh. Saleh Abubakar (third from right), with Kano State Government officials
Director-General, NAGGW, Alh. Saleh Abubakar, revealed this on Friday, May 23,2025, during a courtesy visit to the Kano State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahir Hashim.
He requested state support in identifying and allocating plantation sites across Kano to ensure smooth execution of the planned agroforestry interventions.
“We have raised over five million seedlings, and a significant number are earmarked for Kano State,” Abubakar stated.
In spite of operating from Abuja, Abubakar said Kano serves as NAGGW’s functional base due to the Afforestation Project Coordinating Unit’s presence.
He confirmed identified sites in Gabasawa and Makoda Local Government Areas for agroforestry to support environmental recovery and rural livelihoods.
Abubakar expressed concern about vandalism and encroachment at the Gabasawa site, which was allocated by the state government.
He noted that the agency had sent multiple letters to authorities, but the situation remains unresolved.
“This visit follows up on those letters. If the land is no longer viable, we request an alternative site,” he added.
Abubakar emphasised the importance of protecting plantation sites to prevent setbacks such as those encountered in Gabasawa.
He encouraged dialogue with the state government to resolve issues surrounding vandalised assets through mutual understanding.
“This visit strengthens our collaboration with the state and reiterates our commitment to joint environmental restoration efforts,” Abubakar explained.
He assured the agency’s readiness to work closely with the state in combating desertification and improving rural livelihoods.
Responding, Hashim affirmed Kano State’s dedication to collaborating with relevant agencies to fight desert encroachment.
The Commissioner said the government had reclaimed over 37,000 hectares of degraded land to promote land restoration and combat desertification.
Hashim highlighted the role of community involvement and confirmed the recruitment of additional forest guards to secure plantations.
On his part, Abdulhamid Bala, Acting State Project Coordinator of Kano-AcReSAL, identified unpaid forest guards as a key cause of site vandalism.
He said delayed planting had led to encroachment by local farmers on designated restoration sites.
Bala urged timely fund disbursement to ensure smooth and effective project implementation across Kano State.
Former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has received the Nigerian Content Lifetime Achievement Award at the maiden edition of the inaugural Champions of Nigerian Content Award ceremony organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in partnership with Sweetcrude Ltd on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Champions of Nigerian Content Awards: Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria & recipient of Nigerian Content lifetime achievement award, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, recipient of Nigerian Content Icon of the Year award and Managing Director, Renaissance Africa Energy, Tony Attah; recipient of women in leadership award and Managing Director, Starzs Investments Company Limited, Iroghama Ogbeifun at the Nigerian the Champions of Nigerian Content held on Wednesday in Yenagoa Bayelsa State
The award recognised and rewarded individuals and corporate bodies that set the highest standards in deepening local participation in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and contributed significantly to national development.
In his welcome address at the event, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, noted that the Board had come a long way in implementation of the NOGICD Act and recorded landmark achievements in which outstanding industry players, individuals and corporate entities, deserved to be identified and honoured.
He said: “The time has come to identify and celebrate pillars of Nigerian Content who shall serve as a shining example of what is expected of others in the industry.”
Speaking after receiving the lifetime achievement awards, Dr. Jonathan recalled how he promptly signed the Nigerian Content Bill in 2010 when he was acting President in 2010, stating that an encounter with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who repeatedly mentioned Nigeria as a reference point for underperformance in utilisation of oil resources.
He pointed that the example of China that easily domesticated and domiciled oil and gas industry activities greatly motivated him.
He mentioned that Senator Lee Maeba, who represented Rivers State South East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was among the initiators of the Nigerian Content Bill and deserves special recognition by the NCDMB and Nigerians generally.
The former President appreciated the NCDMB for the success of the Nigerian Content and lauded past and present leadership of the agency that translated the dream behind the Act into reality.
Another top winner in the distinguished individuals category was Tony Attah, Managing Director of Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, as “Nigerian Content Icon of the Year”.
According to the organisers, the award was for his time as the Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited, during which time he secured the Final Investment Decision (FID) for NLNG Train 7 project and led his organisation to partner with NCDMB to sign the first Service Level Agreement (SLA) which Nigeria LNG in June 2017.
Other top winners include Professor Emenike Ejiogu of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), as “Nigerian Content Innovator of the Year,” and Ms. Iroghama Ogbeifun, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Starzs Investments Company Limited received the “Women in Leadership Award”.
In the corporate category, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), now known as Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, clinched the “Nigerian Content International Upstream Operator of the Year Award,” while Aradel won the “Nigerian Content Independent Upstream Operator of the Year Award.”
Other winners in the corporate category were Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited as “Nigerian Content Midstream Operator of the Year”; Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited as “Nigerian Content Downstream Operator of the Year”; Dorman Long Engineering Company Limited as “Nigerian Content Indigenous Service Company of the Year,”and Technip FMC as “Nigerian Content International Service Company of the Year.”
On the winners list also were Bank of Industry (BOI) as “Nigerian Content Financial Services Provider of the Year” and Thisday Newspapers as “Nigerian Content Media Organisationof the Year.”
Speaking on the selection criteria, a member of the Award Advisory Committee, Mr. Wole Akinyosoye, former Operations Controller with the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), said measurable metrics were used to determine the winners.
According to him, “Awardees must have demonstrated operational consistency where applicable; must have contributed to enhanced utilisation and monetisation of gas resources as applicable, and must have improved on local refining where applicable in terms of capacity and energy security.”
Continuing, he said, they “must also have strictly complied with the Act and other statutory Nigerian Content requirements, and must have made significant footprint in job creation and local sourcing.”
On the composition of the Advisory Committee for the Award, he pointed out that the pioneer Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Ernest Nwapa, was the Chairman, while the Secretary-General of the African Petroleum Producers Association (APPO), Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, and he (Wole Akinyosoye) were members.
The “Champions of Nigerian Content Awards” held on the sideline of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) 2025.
COP30 President, André Corrêa do Lago, on Friday, May 23, 2025, issued a third letter to governments to outline what should be achieved at the preparatory UNFCCC negotiations in Bonn (SB 62), to be held from the June 16 to 26 in the run up to the landmark COP30 climate conference.
COP30 President, Andre Correa do Lago
For the first time, the COP president publicly laid out three negotiation priority areas: (i) the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) indicators under the UAE–Belém Work Programme, (ii) the UAE Dialogue on implementing the GST outcomes, and (iii) the UAE Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP).
Negotiations in Bonn are well positioned to develop draft texts for decisions on these items at COP30.
Do Lago specifically emphasised the outcome of the Global stocktake in which countries agreed to “tripling renewable energy capacity globally, doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements, and transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly, and equitable manner.”
The letter further highlights three interconnected priorities for SB 62 that will carry forward to COP30: to reinforce multilateral cooperation for climate action under the UNFCCC, to connect the climate emergency to people’s real lives, and to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement’s commitment to limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees.
It also underscores that Indigenous Peoples and local communities are essential allies in the global response to climate change.
Andreas Sieber, 350.org Associate Director of Global Policy and Campaigns, says: “After months of ambiguity, the COP30 Presidency has finally shifted to a language of delivery. By identifying a decision on the Global Stocktake as one of its top priorities, the Presidency is moving in the right direction, especially in linking this to the phaseout of fossil fuels and the tripling of renewables as key benchmarks of implementation.
“But political signals alone won’t deliver outcomes, or ensure that implementation is just and equitable. At the Bonn climate talks, the Presidency must go further – it must exercise clear, strategic diplomacy and throw its full political weight behind securing an ambitious COP30 outcome that actually accelerates the Global Stocktake and ensures a just energy transition.”
Ilan Zugman, 350.org Latin America and Caribbean Regional Director says: “In the same week that the Brazilian government is advancing domestically with law shifts that can open up the door for environmental devastation and predatory practices in the near future, as well as getting closer and closer to exploring oil in the mouth of the Amazon, we finally see some signs from the COP30 presidency to start addressing the biggest cause of the climate crisis.
“This is a first but on its own insufficient step if not followed up by more for the “mutirão” needed to bend the world towards the end of the fossil fuel era and a just energy transition, as well as to put an end to Brazil’s contradictory quest in being a fair climate leader internationally and at the same time rowing towards the opposite direction domestically.”
This week Brazil, the host country for COP30, saw two deadly blows to environmental and climate protection that if approved could have consequences for decades to come. On May 20, the environmental protection agency IBAMA cleared another step towards Petrobas obtaining licensing for oil exploration in Block 59 off the Amazonian coast, part of a major expansion plan for the region. An auction of 47 blocks in the same basin (and 330+ all over the country) is scheduled for June 17, when Brazilian diplomats will at the same time be peddling Brazil’s green credentials to the world in Bonn.
On Wednesday, May 21, the Brazilian Senate passed a bill – by a wide majority and with votes and support from President Lula’s administration – that kills environmental impact assessments for nearly all enterprises, including, thanks to a last-minute amendment by the Senate president, oil and gas projects. The bill will return to the Chamber and a presidential veto is still a possibility.
Southern African leaders gathered on Friday, May 23, 2025, to mark 25 years of transfrontier conservation cooperation and address challenges in managing shared natural resources across the region.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe
The SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas Summit brought together heads of state and government representatives from 12 member nations to discuss cross-border wildlife management, anti-poaching efforts and sustainable tourism development.
Zimbabwean President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who chairs the Southern African Development Community, opened the summit under the theme “Transfrontier Conservation Areas-25 Years of Cooperation for Regional Integration and Sustainable Development.”
The summit commemorated achievements in transboundary conservation while addressing ongoing challenges, including human-wildlife conflict and the need for sustainable financing mechanisms.
Leaders urged member states to strengthen community participation in conservation efforts and ensure equitable benefit sharing from transfrontier conservation areas.
The summit stressed the importance of including rural communities and youth in conservation programmes.
Delegates called for innovative financing approaches, including carbon markets, biodiversity offsets, eco-tourism partnerships and public-private collaborations to fund conservation initiatives.
The summit highlighted anti-poaching efforts through the SADC Law Enforcement Anti-Poaching Strategy as essential to combating wildlife crime across borders.
Leaders emphasised the need for cooperation among member states, international partners and local communities.
Five countries – Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe – agreed to pilot a regional tourism visa system designed to simplify travel and boost intra-regional tourism.
The gathering also promoted the establishment of coastal and marine conservation areas to implement the SADC Blue Economy Strategy, aimed at the sustainable use of marine resources, including fisheries, tourism and maritime transport.
Leaders paid tribute to former presidents Festus Mogae of Botswana and Thabo Mbeki of South Africa as pioneers of transfrontier conservation in the region.
The summit drew more than 500 delegates and 30 exhibitors, including government officials, international partners, non-governmental organisations, community leaders and conservation experts.
Leaders called for international recognition of SADC conservation successes and urged the global community to support sustainable wildlife use that benefits local communities while advancing conservation goals.
The summit concluded with commitments to strengthen regional cooperation in biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management and eco-tourism development across the 16-nation SADC bloc.
Nigeria’s premier gas distribution company, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), last week engaged more than 100 gas off takers in the Agbara Ota industrial zone in Ogun State on ways of consolidating the gains from the supply of gas to the businesses.
L-R: Manager, Strategy and Sustainability, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) Daniel Aso; Team Lead on Gas, Office of The Special Adviser to The President on Energy, Lateef Biobaku; Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo); Ronald Adams; General Manager, Shell Energy Nigeria (SEN), Markus Hector ; Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) Ralph Gbobo and Joseph Musa, Director Gas at The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) at Shell Nigeria Gas customers Forum that held in Lagos
Set up in 1998 as a fully Shell-owned company, SNG currently operates in Abia, Rivers and Ogun states providing gas to customers through distribution pipelines of approximately 150km.
SNG interacted with the off takers in customers’ fora to receive feedback and explore ways of improving gas supply. The theme of the customer’s forum at Agbara Ota was “The Natural Gas Partner of Choice, Powering Nigeria,” and it was also attended by industry partners and officials of the Federal Government, the Ogun State Government and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
“Our commitment is to build, operate and maintain a gas distribution system that is not just reliable, but resilient, transparent, and growth-oriented, to support businesses, industries and ambitions,” General Manager, Shell Energy Nigeria, Markus Hector, said, while welcoming guests. “This session is an opportunity for honest feedback, shared learning, and co-creating a better path forward. Your voice matters and we want to hear it.”
The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, represented by the Team Lead, Gas, Lateef Biobaku, used the opportunity to share the vision of the government for the oil and gas industry.
He said: “Our vision is to unlock Nigeria’s energy potential, to help fuel economic growth, to drive industrialization and help diversify our economy.”
The aim is to attract investments to help raise oil and gas production to 4 million barrels per day and 12 billion cubic feet of gas per day by 2030.
The Managing Director of the NNPC Gas Marketing Limited, represented by the Manager, Strategy and Sustainability, Dan Aso, said: “The future of the Agbara Ota industrial zone is bright, and natural gas will continue to play a pivotal role as Nigeria transitions towards a driven economy.”
His remarks were echoed by several other speakers, among them the Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Adebola Sofela; the Director General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir; and the Chairman of Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Council, Wasiu Lawal.
Participants took part in three panel sessions on “Agbara Ota Industrial zone: present and future possibilities,” “Energy future” and “Nigeria’s oil and gas: Energised, invigorated and reawakened.”
SNG Managing Director, Ralph Gbobo, reflected on the outcome of the Agbara Ota customer’s forum: “We have noted the comments of our customers and will continue to improve our services to drive the growth already recorded through gas distribution. We’re grateful for the support and cooperation of our partners, communities, customers and the Ogun State Government and look forward to more collaboration for greater strides.”
More than 150 representatives from the frontlines of the climate crisis in the Asia-Pacific region have come together to identify programming opportunities that would realise their countries’ climate aspirations.
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mark Brown
Representatives from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – 13 from the Pacific region plus Maldives and Timor-Leste – convened in the Cook Islands on May 2025 for the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) Regional Dialogue with the Pacific and Asian SIDS. They shared successes and lessons from partnering with (GCF) and explored ways to strengthen collaboration to support enhanced project pipelines.
The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mark Brown, focused on the opportunity at hand. “Our collective goal must be to strengthen coherence, increase scale and deliver real impact on the ground. Faster, more efficiently, and more sustainably,” he said.
“This is where the Green Climate Fund plays such a critical role, not just as a financier, but as a genuine partner; a partner that is responsive to country realities, aligned to regional priorities, and willing to innovate alongside us to overcome persistent challenges.
“The dialogue is an opportunity to move from conversation to action. It is an opportunity to co-design solutions that preserve national and regional ownership while strengthening the delivery of climate finance where it matters most: In our communities, on our lands, and across our oceans.”
The Dialogue enabled GCF to better understand and respond to the priorities, challenges, and needs of SIDS in the region. The Fund also updated partners on its latest policies, tools, and guidance to simplify and quicken access to finance. A series of technical discussions and workshops focused on specific programming areas for the private and public sectors within GCF’s updated Strategic Plan were held over the course of the three-day event.
The Director of GCF’s Asia Pacific Regional Department, Hemant Mandal, acknowledged the leadership of the Pacific and Asian SIDS on the regional and global climate agenda.
“This region has always punched above its weight. From governance to innovation, Pacific voices have shaped GCF,” he said. “With nearly 20 per cent of our Asia-Pacific portfolio invested in this (Pacific) region, we are proud of what we’ve built together, and we are here to grow that partnership.”
The Dialogue was co-hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister, Climate Change Cook Islands, and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management. Participants included the GCF’s government focal points (National Designated Authorities), Accredited Entities (national and international), Civil Society Organisations, and other partners.
A new ecological corridor of around 800,000 hectares, or 8,000 km², was announced by the Kyrgyz Republic on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The corridor is set to link up existing conservation areas and complete a protected area spanning a total of over 1,2 million hectares, in a landmark move for biodiversity.
A view of the newly created ecological corridor in Kyrgyz Republic
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) supported the Kyrgyz government by providing ecological modelling to help define the corridor’s borders. The area will connect the Khan-Tengri National Park and Naryn Nature Reserve, passing through several other conservation areas along the way.
The corridor aims to safeguard migration and dispersal routes for key mountain wildlife species under pressure from changing habitat conditions due to overgrazing and climate change. The species include snow leopards, which are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and its prey species, such as the Asiatic ibex and the argali sheep.
The ecological corridor is said to be the biggest to be created under the Kyrgyz Republic’s Law on Specially Protected Natural Areas. Ecological corridors balance conservation goals with sustainable land use. While they are legally part of the protected area system, the corridors allow activities like seasonal grazing with some limitations, ecotourism, and reforestation, provided they do not harm biodiversity or disrupt ecological processes such as wildlife migration.
Previously, over 65,000 sheep grazed in the corridor area during summer months. With the corridor’s introduction, grazing planning and the rotation of livestock herds will be adapted to reduce this figure by 15,000, leaving mountain pastures more time to recover and providing grazing opportunities for wildlife. The redistribution process, coordinated with local herders and community leaders, aims to protect livelihoods while environmental goals are met.
“The establishment of this corridor marks a major milestone in conservation for Central Asia and can serve as a model for the region,” said UNEP’s Europe Office Director, Arnold Kreilhuber. “By creating a network of connected landscapes, the Kyrgyz Republic is leading the way in preserving not only iconic species like the snow leopard but also safeguarding the nature that people’s livelihoods depend on.”
“This is a collaborative effort to conserve our ecosystems without excluding the people who rely on them,” said Mirslav Amankulov, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic. “There are no permanent settlements within the corridor, and we’ve worked closely with herders to ensure fair access to alternative pastureland.”
The corridor was established following a modelling study conducted by Humboldt University in Berlin and the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic under a UNEP-led project. The modeled ecological corridor outlines were presented at community roundtables and received unanimous support from local authorities and scientific institutions.
Looking ahead, the country plans to integrate ecological corridors into other sectoral planning and policy – such as national pasture development plans and hunting regulations – to support biodiversity conservation. Monitoring systems, including biomass assessments, will help to oversee pasture use and track ecological health.
“Ecological corridors are a crucial way to ensure that, despite the changing climate, ecosystems can continue to provide essential services that people and nature rely on – from clean water and fertile soils to climate resilience and room for migration,” said Johan Robinson, Officer in Charge for UNEP’s Biodiversity and Land Branch, Ecosystems Division. “The Kyrgyz Republic is choosing a more sustainable future for both nature and communities”.
To enhance climate-smart conservation in Central Asia, the possibility of establishing transboundary ecological corridors extending beyond the Kyrgyz Republic is being considered.
This announcement coincides with the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, highlighting the Kyrgyz Republic’s commitment to global efforts in preserving the planet’s natural heritage.
Support for the ecological corridor was provided through the UNEP-led ‘Central Asian Mammals and Climate Adaptation’ (CAMCA) project, funded by the International Climate Initiative of the German government, in collaboration with the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), WWF USA, and two Kyrgyz NGO’s, CAMP Alatoo and Ilbirs Foundation.
The project aims to enhance the conservation of flagship migratory mammal species of Central Asia through climate change-informed management and decision-making.
Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp) has launched its school recycling initiative at Ireti Senior Grammar School, Falomo, Lagos.
Owen Omogiafo, the President/Group CEO, Transcorp Group leading sensitization of students during waste recycling campaign by the firm in Lagos on Thursday
The awareness campaign, with the theme: “Transcorp Transforms School Recycling Initiative”, began with a lecture on waste separation and benefits of recycling.
A waste management team educated students on how recycling plastic bottles could create income while saving the environment.
President and Group CEO, Owen Omogiafo, led an interactive session highlighting environmental risks of careless waste disposal.
She stressed the long-term impact of waste mismanagement on future generations and the importance of acting responsibly.
Two large recycling collection bins for paper and plastics were unveiled on the school grounds amid cheers from students and staff.
Omogiafo said the initiative is part of Transcorp’s Corporate Social Responsibility to foster environmental education in schools.
She explained that raising awareness among children helps build a generation that values sustainability and responsible habits.
“We’re seeing floods and disasters globally, including wildfires in California and evacuations in Argentina,” she noted.
Omogiafo added that Transcorp is encouraging other companies to follow suit and support environmental causes across Nigeria.
“This school is one of many. We’ll continue reaching out to more schools nationwide,” she affirmed.
She also revealed that Transcorp-owned schools run similar environmental education campaigns throughout the year.
Transcorp, Nigeria’s largest listed conglomerate, has investments in power, energy, and hospitality, backed by 300,000 shareholders.
Student representative, Utsu Comfort, thanked Transcorp and pledged student participation in improved waste practices.
Principal, Mrs. Okuyemi Babafemi, and teacher, Mrs. Ruth Aliu, praised the initiative for empowering students with recycling knowledge.
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has urged communities in its 11 frontline states to take ownership of its projects and assets.
Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Alhaji Saleh Abubakar
The agency’s Director-General, Mr. Saleh Abubakar, made the call during a high-level advocacy visit to Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa State in Dutse, the state capital, on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
He said community ownership is vital to safeguard projects and reduce vandalism incidents affecting NAGGW’s investments across Northern Nigeria.
Abubakar explained that the visit aimed to promote collaboration, awareness, and support for the agency’s activities within the state.
The agency operates in 11 northern states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
He stressed that, in rural areas, people rely on natural resources, making it crucial to advocate for human capital development and resource diversification.
Abubakar warned that unchecked desertification, land degradation, and climate change could ruin livelihoods, destroy habitats, and trigger conflict or forced migration.
“Human misuse drives land degradation, but through behaviour change and action, communities can reverse the damage,” the DG stated.
He said the visit was designed to raise awareness and encourage communities to protect NAGGW projects by treating them as their own.
He listed agency services, including degraded land restoration, afforestation, and alternative livelihoods to reduce pressure on natural resources and boost rural economies.
Abubakar also highlighted efforts in promoting alternative energy, managing water resources, supporting irrigation, and conducting awareness campaigns across the 11 states.
He urged the governor to help protect current investments, replicate the awareness drive, and identify communities needing immediate NAGGW interventions.
Namadi, represented by Jigawa Commissioner for Environment, Dr Nura Ibrahim, praised the DG’s visit and appreciated the state being chosen for the first advocacy effort.
Namadi promised to sensitise residents on project protection and urged NAGGW to involve locals in project implementation for better outcomes.
He said local participation would enhance a sense of responsibility and encourage communities to protect projects in their areas.
“The vandalism of NAGGW facilities causes economic loss and hampers the sustainability of development efforts,” the governor warned.
He added the consequences affect not just communities but the nation as a whole.
“We will ensure our people recognise the projects as theirs and take collective responsibility for their protection,” Namadi assured.
President Bola Tinubu has urged the new Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) board to consolidate the gains of the ongoing economic reforms, which have attracted commendations for the resilience and competitiveness of the Nigerian economy.
From left: Chairman of the NNPC board, Ahmadu Musa Kida; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, after the inauguration of the NNPC Board at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday
This is contained in a statement by the Presidential spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Board of NNPC Ltd. at the State House, Tinubu said he selected the board members painstakingly to ensure quality leadership.
“When I started searching, it took a while to come up with the kind of character that you represent. You represent the best in the industry, and I have set goals for you.
“You have the reputation, resourcefulness and experience to help the country. It is a call to duty for you.
“I believe you are among the best the industry can offer,” he said.
The President said the ongoing economic reforms had yielded results, with local and international acknowledgements.
“Nigeria has come of age. It is now more competitive and turning the corner, and with your highly respected team, I can relax and attend to other issues.
“Thank you for accepting the opportunity to serve your country and our dear country,” the President stated. Tinubu told the board that the volatility in the world’s economy would require looking inward for solutions, and Nigerians would depend on repositioning the NNPC Ltd.
He added, “Explore all options for a win-win situation for Nigeria. I am so proud of you and believe you will succeed.”
Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State, Petroleum, thanked the President for assembling the team he described as the best in Africa.
“I got calls from the whole of Africa, my colleagues in OPEC, saying that if this team does not deliver, Nigeria will have to import men from another planet to come and deliver the oil and gas sector in Nigeria,” he said.
Ahmadu Kida, the Chairman of the Board, thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the country.
He said the new Board would uphold the highest standard of leadership, courage and integrity in delivering on the President’s mandate.
Bashir Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., said the team had already met with industry stakeholders to review operations and business relationships.
“We have had several meetings, and we have set a direction with the mandate that you have given us. We have commenced the journey with a bi-weekly meeting with stakeholders,” he said.
Ojulari noted that the management had started optimising various aspects of the company, including the turnaround maintenance of the refineries.
He said production had risen to 1.7 million barrels in two months from 1.5 million barrels, with the target of reaching 1.9 million barrels by year-end.
“We will promise what we can deliver, and we will deliver on our promise,” he added. Ojulari also said the President’s economic reform had sent the right signals to attract foreign direct investments.
He assured us that the NNPC Ltd. would operate as a business.
