Artisanal lead mining in Nigeria is responsible for airborne lead exposures that are 10 times the U.S. Permissible Exposure Limit, according to a study published on Monday, May 12, 2025. It is believed to be the first study to report on airborne lead levels from self-employed artisanal lead miners as a source of community exposures.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Photo credit: thewillnigeria.com
The study also found that airborne lead exposures from gold ore processing in Northern Nigeria is associated with exposures that are more than 30 times greater than allowable exposure limits. The artisanal gold ore processing that was monitored utilised a variety of manual and machine grinding methods to process and extract the gold.
Lead is mined for use in many products but primarily goes into manufacturing lead batteries. The market for lead batteries continues to grow despite growing competition for lithium-ion batteries and other more expensive battery chemistries.
“We found that lead exposures among underground lead miners are as much as 22 times the occupational lead air standard,” said Manti Michael Nota, Lecturer at Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the lead author of the study. He added that “these exposures are contributing to the high rates of childhood lead poisoning we have seen in these communities.”
Lead battery storage is considered essential to promote “clean” energy from solar and wind in most countries and particularly in rural areas that remain unconnected to the electricity grid. In addition to the hazardous exposures seen in mining lead the manufacturing and recycling of these batteries are a well-documented source of occupational and childhood lead poisoning.
“These finds suggest that informal lead mining is one of the most hazardous forms of mining that gets little attention despite the growing presence of self-employed lead mining operations around the world,” said Perry Gottesfeld, Executive Director of Occupational Knowledge International (OK International) whose organisation partnered with Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in this effort.
Most of the lead ore mined in Nigeria is exported to China for processing. Exports grew by more than 360% over the decade from 2013 to 2022.
Informal lead mining is a growing activity in many countries around the world. Ongoing lead mining in Kabwe Zambia has been linked to extensive poisoning and widespread environmental contamination. A recent report from Southern Myanmar that documents the rapid increase in lead mining to supply ore to China has been ongoing since the coup in February 2021.
Gottesfeld noted: “The study makes clear that mining can be associated with extremely high exposures to a range of metals present in the ore that can contaminate homes and poison communities.”
Lead causes severe neurological deficits and death among children in these communities, but even at low exposure levels is responsible for an estimated 5 million deaths each year primarily due to cardiovascular disease. Investments in safer mining to reduce lead exposures would have a significant return on investment compared to the costs of treating severe lead poisoning in these communities, according to OK International.
The Nigerian government has attempted to impose a ban on mining in Zamfara State, but these efforts have largely been unsuccessful as ongoing lead poisoning cases are reported in mining communities.
There are an estimated 40 million informal small-scale miners working in at least 70 countries around the world. In addition to artisanal gold mining, informal lead mining accounts for an increasing share of the global lead supply.
The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project is currently hosting a high-level retreat to review project implementation progress, enhance stakeholders understanding, and set new milestones for speedy implementation.
Participants at the opening of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) retreat in Lagos on Monday, May 12, 2025
The retreat, themed “Strengthening Coordination and Advancing Effective ACReSAL Implementation”, commenced in Lagos on Monday, May 12, and it is expected to end on Friday, May 17, 2025.
In his welcome address, Abdulhamid Umar, the National Project Coordinator (NPC), ACReSAL, said: “The retreat will bring together esteemed stakeholders, including Ministers of Environment, Agriculture and Food Security, and Water Resources and Sanitation, the Leader World Bank Task Team, National Project Coordinator, Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries of state Ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Water Resources.”
The NPC of ACReSAL revealed that stakeholders attending the retreat were drafted from the 19 Northern States and FCT (which makes up the coverage area), State Project Coordinators, Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), the 20 states and FCT coordinators and the ACReSAL team.
“The ACReSAL Project s expected to be implemented between 2022 and 2028 with implementing Ministries such as Federal and States Ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Food Security, as well as Water Resources and Sanitation,” he stressed.
In her remarks, Dr. Joy Iganya Agene, Task Team Leader of ACReSAL Project, stated that the retreat was organised to review project performance in the 19 participating states and FCT as well as set new milestones for speedy implementation of the project across all participating states.
Agene, who also doubled as a Senior Environmental Specialist with the World Bank, disclosed: “Apart from identifying and addressing potential gaps and bottlenecks, the retreat will also enhance stakeholders understanding of project operations for participating states.”
The Task Team Leader listed some of the key deliverables of the retreat to include coordinating platforms for project sustainability, such as policy development and validation of strategic catchment management plans.
“We decided to have a session on policy work. At this point, we need to start looking back at what we have done. Have we done it very well? What we need to do and how we need to do them going forward. So, you will be listening to a lot of presentations also from the MDAs, the federal government and others.
“Prior to the session with the ministers, we agreed that a Terms of Reference (TOR) will be provided for all stakeholders.”
According to her, the TOR that will be helpful in the policy work, and it is a draft, will be shared with everyone before leaving the office.
“So, what we are going to do is to give you a generic TOR that will help guide the process, but the process has to be state-specific” she charged the stakeholders.
“At the end of the session, key takeaways from the retreat will be to enhance stakeholders capacity to implement project activities, improve understanding of project operations and institutional arrangements and identification of solutions to potential challenges,” Agene opined.
The ACReSAL Project, initiated on November 19, 2021, aims to address critical challenges in Northern Nigeria, including poverty, low literacy, environmental degradation, and poor agricultural productivity.
The project’s development objective is to increase the implementation of sustainable landscape management practices in Northern Nigeria and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term enabling environment for integrated climate-resilient landscape management.
The ACReSAL Project is supported by the Federal Government of Nigeria and fully funded by the World Bank.
The Federal Government has begun moves to initiate sweeping reforms aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s electricity distribution sector, starting with a pilot overhaul of two underperforming Distribution Companies (DisCos).
Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu
The move follows a comprehensive assessment of systemic challenges plaguing the DisCos, including governance gaps, infrastructure deficits, and commercial inefficiencies.
Power Minister, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed the plan after a meeting with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which presented a roadmap titled: “Revamping of the Distribution Sector in Nigeria”.
The pilot scheme, slated to commence between May and August 2025, will target one DisCo in the North and another in the South. It aims to demonstrate a replicable model for operational turnaround, combining internal restructuring, external expertise, and federal oversight to achieve rapid improvements in service delivery.
JICA’s proposal emphasises reforming DisCos “from within” by integrating outside experts, strengthening leadership, and aligning government support with short-term results in pilot zones to lay the groundwork for long-term sector-wide transformation.
Adelabu stressed the urgency of the intervention, stating: “We can no longer fold our hands and watch the inadequacies of DisCos whose performances fall short of expectations. This pilot is not optional – we will use regulatory authority to restructure underperforming DisCos and compel compliance if necessary.”
He acknowledged persistent resistance to past reforms but vowed to address both universal challenges – such as vandalism and governance – and region-specific issues, including cultural barriers hindering operations.
Key to the initiative is resolving the DisCos’ inability to invest in infrastructure upgrades, he said.
“Their lack of investment is not solely due to unwillingness but also a lack of incentives. Returns on infrastructure spending are not commensurate, so we must attract investors and franchise viable and the not so viable areas to capable operators, so we can have a mix,” Adelabu explained.
He directed the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to enforce franchising opportunities and ensure DisCos’ cooperation, noting: “NERC must secure their buy-in. Past efforts failed due to resistance, but this time, we will be intentional and decisive.”
The Minister also highlighted the need for public education to clarify the roles of generation, transmission, and distribution entities.
“Many Nigerians still view the sector as a single entity. Educating consumers is critical to building trust and support for these reforms,” he added.
JICA’s proposal, developed after the Minister’s earlier visit to Japan’s energy market, underscores a “holistic approach” to revamping distribution, including proactive government-JICA collaboration and measurable milestones.
Takeshi Kikukawa, JICA’s Power Sector Policy Advisor to Nigeria, noted during the presentation: “The goal is to deliver immediate results in pilot areas while creating a sustainable foundation for nationwide improvement.”
The Federal Ministry of Power and NERC will finalise pilot details in the coming months, prioritising DisCos with acute operational deficits. The initiative marks the most robust effort to date to resolve power distribution crisis, signalling a renewed push for accountability, investor confidence, and reliable electricity access.
The UN World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has warned that extreme weather and climate change are severely affecting all aspects of socio-economic development across Africa, deepening hunger, insecurity, and displacement.
WMO Secretary-General, Prof. Celeste Saulo
In a statement released on Monday, May 12, 2025, the WMO said that devastating floods in South Sudan in recent months had left thousands of herders without their livestock, goats, cows, and cattle.
It described the animals as central to the herders’ livelihoods and cultural traditions.
These losses, the agency said, reflected how climate change was eroding the social and economic fabric of African communities.
The WMO also highlighted record sea surface temperatures, especially in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, noting that nearly all ocean areas around Africa were affected by marine heatwaves of strong to extreme intensity in 2023.
WMO Secretary-General, Celeste Saulo, described climate change as an urgent and escalating crisis for the continent.
“Some countries are grappling with exceptional flooding due to excessive rainfall, while others endure persistent droughts and growing water scarcity,” Saulo said.
Floods, heatwaves, and droughts displaced around 700,000 people across Africa in 2023 alone, WMO reported.
In northern Nigeria, for instance, 230 people died and 600,000 were displaced in September following massive floods in Maiduguri. West Africa also experienced severe flooding, affecting more than four million people.
Meanwhile, southern African countries like Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe suffered the worst droughts in decades, slashing cereal harvests by up to 50 per cent compared to five-year averages.
WMO added that El Niño conditions from 2023 into early 2024 played a significant role in rainfall patterns across Africa, worsening already dire conditions in many regions.
Heatwaves are also emerging as a major public health and development threat. South Sudan was forced to close schools in March 2024 when temperatures soared to 45°C.
Globally, at least 242 million students missed school due to extreme weather events this year, many of them in sub-Saharan Africa, according to UNICEF.
Rising temperatures continue to exacerbate water scarcity and food insecurity, especially in North Africa.
Erratic weather has disrupted agriculture and driven more displacement, particularly in conflict-affected regions.
In South Sudan, for example, last October’s floods affected 300,000 people and wiped out between 30 to 34 million livestock. Stagnant water spread disease and left once self-sufficient families in need of humanitarian aid.
“When someone slides back into being fed, it affects their dignity,” said Meshack Malo, South Sudan Country Representative for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
He emphasised that South Sudan is in a constant cycle of flooding and drought, with climate-related disasters now affecting the country for most of the year.
Infrastructure challenges have also worsened the crisis. With roads impassable, UN agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP) are forced to rely on expensive airlifts to deliver aid, an unsustainable approach amid shrinking humanitarian funding.
Experts say that rather than relying on large-scale solutions like desalination, Africa must invest urgently in local adaptation measures such as early warning systems.
Dr Dawit Solomon of the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) stressed that desalination posed long-term economic, environmental, and social concerns.
“Africa already faces a steep climate change bill. For a continent still struggling economically, this is a dangerous risk multiplier,” he said.
The year 2024 was the warmest or second-warmest year on record for Africa along with devastating floods, droughts and marine heat waves, according to the World Meteorological Organisation’s (WMO) State of Climate in Africa 2024 report, released on Monday, May 12, 2025. The extreme weather and other impacts raise serious concerns for the continent’s food and economic security.
Flooding in N’Djamena, Chad
The El Niño event of 2023-2024 was partly to blame for the warming and extreme weather, along with global warming and consequent climate change.
The average annual surface temperature across Africa was around 0.86°C above the average annual surface temperature between 1991 and 2020. The strongest warming was in North Africa, which was 1.28°C above the 1991-2020 average. North Africa is the fastest warming region in the continent.
Extreme temperatures impacted agriculture and other livelihoods in many parts of Africa. For instance in mid-March, Sudan and Somalia suffered from an unprecedented heat wave with temperatures reaching above 45°C, leading to shut down of schools and impacts on food availability and livelihoods.
Around the same period and in April, there were extreme temperatures in the Sahel region as well. In July, a heat dome phenomenon, or a large high pressure area, had caused record breaking temperatures in North Africa.
Sea surface temperatures around the continent, especially in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea were also record high. Alarmingly, almost the entire ocean area around Africa was under marine heat waves (MHWs) of “strong, severe or extreme intensity during 2024”, according to the report.
MHWs are extended periods of extreme ocean temperatures that affect the health and productivity of marine life and also aid in the formation and intensification of tropical cyclones which frequently impact many countries of Africa, especially towards the southeast such as Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar.
A total area of 30,00,000 square kilometres of the ocean was affected by MHWs between January and April 2024. In the latter six months of the year, the total affected area was 15,00,000 square kilometres. The area affected by MHWs was the highest since records began in 1993, breaking the previous record set in 2023.
Many African countries also suffered from either excessive rainfall or lack of rainfall throughout 2024, leading to crippling floods in many regions and debilitating droughts in others.
There was excessive rainfall in large parts of the Sahel region in 2024 that lead to floods. The Sahara desert, one of the driest regions on the planet, received more than five times its annual rainfall in the month of August, causing rare floods in the desert and impacting infrastructures.
In eastern Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi were hit by floods from March to May affecting 7,00,000 people and the deaths of hundreds of people. The same region received less than average rainfall between October and December, raising food security concerns. In western and central Africa, floods impacted four million people across Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic in 2024.
In southern and northern Africa, the situation was exactly the opposite with extensive drought, with some of the countries such as Morocco under a long-term drought. Morocco’s agricultural output was 42 per cent below the five-year average as the country grapples with a six-year-long drought.
Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia suffered from their worst drought in the last two decades, with the aggregate cereal yields for southern Africa being 16 per cent below the five-year average. Zimbabwe suffered the worst, with yields 50 per cent less than the five-year average. The yields were below average by 43 per cent in Zambia.
The national meteorological or hydrological services in various countries of Africa have taken steps to generate and communicate better forecasts and early warnings to the people affected by extreme weather events.
“The Nigeria Meteorological Agency has embraced digital platforms to disseminate vital agricultural advisories and climate information. The Kenya Meteorological Department provides weather forecasts to farmers and fishers through mobile applications and SMS messages. The South African Weather Service has also integrated AI-based forecasting tools and modern radar systems for effective and timely weather predictions,” according to a press release by the WMO.
The report reveals “a stark pattern of extreme weather events, with some countries grappling with exceptional flooding caused by excessive rainfall and others enduring persistent droughts and water scarcity,” said WMO secretary general, Celeste Saulo.
“WMO and its partners are committed to working with Members to build resilience and strengthen adaptation efforts in Africa through initiatives like Early Warnings for All,” she added.
The World Bank, established in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference alongside the International Monetary Fund (IMF), had an initial focus on the reconstruction of post-World War II Europe.
Ajay Banga, World Bank President
Over time, the bank’s mission evolved to centre on poverty reduction and sustainable development across the globe.
The World Bank comprises two main institutions– the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).
The IBRD provides loans and advice to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, while IDA offers interest-free loans and grants to the world’s poorest countries; together, they are commonly referred to as the World Bank.
The overarching mission of the World Bank is to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity on a livable planet.
The World Bank has a long-standing partnership with Nigeria, supporting various development initiatives across different sectors.
It has been a significant partner in Nigeria’s economic development since 1958, providing loans, credits, and grants through the IDA and the IBRD.
The institution’s primary goals in Nigeria include poverty reduction, human capital development, revenue diversification and overall economic management.
The World Bank has actively supported Nigeria’s recent efforts to restore macroeconomic stability; this includes the unification of the multiple exchange rates to create a market-reflective official rate and the removal of fuel subsidy.
Experts say the reforms aim to improve fiscal space, reduce debt risks, and attract both domestic and foreign investment.
World Bank policies have also encouraged the Nigerian Government to focus on increasing non-oil revenues through better tax policies and administration, cutting government waste, and directing spending towards targeted poverty programmes.
Stakeholders say the measures have contributed to a narrowing of the fiscal deficit.
At the recently concluded Spring Meetings of the IMF/World Bank Group, the Director of the African Department at the IMF, Abebe Selassie, commended Nigeria’s bold economic reforms and called for continued support for vulnerable citizens.
Abebe highlighted the reforms, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, as essential measures to address unsustainable macroeconomic conditions.
While acknowledging the short-term hardships the reforms had caused, Selassie emphasised that addressing them was key.
Selassie said that strengthening the country’s economy required maintaining macroeconomic stability, restoring market confidence, and ensuring well-coordinated monetary and fiscal policies.
He stressed the importance of open communication with the public to build trust and garner support for the ongoing reforms.
The director added that with sustained effort and careful policy calibration, Nigeria could achieve more inclusive and sustainable growth.
The Deputy Director at the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, Era Dabla-Norris, urged African countries like Nigeria to prioritise strengthening financial buffers and maintaining fiscal discipline.
She advocated broadening the tax base and curbing tax evasion through technology.
Dabla-Norris said that although fuel subsidy removal had immediate impact on incomes, its long-term benefits, such as energy efficiency and better use of fiscal savings, took time.
She urged the Nigerian Government to adopt a comprehensive strategy to ensure subsidy reforms yield positive outcomes and highlighted the importance of increased tax revenue in boosting economic resilience.
Dabla-Norris called for compensatory mechanisms like cash transfers or more targeted transfers, for the needy.
“Where the public does not trust the government, increasing support for social programmes makes it very tangible to the public,” she said.
However, some Nigerians have consistently raised concern about the negative impact of policies of the Bretton Woods institutions on the Nigerian populace.
Such critics cite the conditionality of loans, saying that the stringent economic reforms attached to World Bank loans, such as fiscal austerity, currency devaluation, and privatisation, have sometimes led to negative social consequences like increased poverty and unemployment.
Concerns also centre on perceived lack of accountability, impact on social services, and potential for increased debt burdens and the perceived failure of World Bank projects to demonstrably improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
According to a former President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Okechukwu Unegbu, the Federal Government should be circumspect before adopting recommendations by World Bank.
According to Unegbu, historically, such recommendations have ended up worsening economic conditions of ordinary Nigerians.
He said that certain liberalisation policies promoted by international financial institutions could undermine local industries and create trade imbalances.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) warned that blindly following advice from the World Bank and the IMF could spell disaster for Nigeria.
The Head of Public Relations of NLC, Benson Upah, said that the World Bank did not have Nigeria’s best interests at heart.
While the World Bank has funded numerous projects, evaluations have sometimes indicated that the outcomes in areas like social service delivery and non-oil growth have been unsatisfactory, suggesting challenges in effective implementation and achieving desired results.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, however, said that the economic prescriptions by the World Bank were gradually having a positive impact on the Nigerian economy.
Edun said that the government had resolved to drive down inflation and implement structural reforms to support economic resilience and sustainable growth.
He said that the country was targeting seven per cent economic growth, which represented a strong growth projection, under which poverty would be substantially reduced and lives of Nigerians significantly improved.
“We are focusing on agriculture, increasing productivity, as well as making food more available to the people.
“We are also building more infrastructure, particularly in the digital economy area that will benefit young people, and we are supporting businesses through improved access to finance,” he said.
The minister agreed that tariff hikes were impacting real wages and disruption of global supply chains disproportionately affecting Emerging Market Developing Economies (EMD’s) due to the limited diversification of their economies and greater dependence on imported goods.
He said that domestic policy re-strategising should be the first line of defence
“Fiscal policies should safeguard sustainability and rebuild buffers; remain investment friendly to create job opportunities and enhance resilient growth.
“Policy calibration should be toward further restoring confidence and stability, reduce imbalances and improve productivity to drive sustainable growth.
“Regional and cross regional economic integration and cooperation is critical,” Edun said.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said that inflation remained the most disruptive force to the economic welfare of Nigerians.
“Our policy stance is firmly focused on bringing inflation down to single digits in a sustainable manner over the medium term.
“Our goal is to restore price stability, protect household purchasing power, and lay the foundation for long-term investment,” Cardoso said.
As the government continues in its efforts to grow the economy and improve the standard of living of average citizens, policy analysts say certain national peculiarities should be considered before Bretton Woods economic policies are adopted.
In all, experts hold the view that wholesale adoption of World Bank/IMF policies like sale of government businesses through privatisation, removal of subsidies on essential consumables and tax increases could be counterproductive.
By Nana Musa and Kadiri Abdulrahman, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
As South Africa moves toward a low-carbon future, communities most affected by the extractive economy have demanded to be included in the transition.
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa
On Monday, May 12, 2025, the Sekhukhune Combined Mining-Affected Communities (SCMAC), in partnership with 350Africa.org, Ahinasa, and the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), launched a new case study: “Concrete Models of Socially-Owned Renewable Energy (SORE): The case of Sekhukhune Combined Mining Affected Communities.”
This report is both a call to action and a blueprint for change, challenging extractive energy models and foregrounding the role of social ownership in ensuring a just, inclusive and equitable energy future.
For decades, mining-affected communities in regions like Burgersfort within the mineral-rich Bushveld Complex have borne the brunt of South Africa’s mining and mineral energy economy. These communities have faced land dispossession, environmental degradation, pollution and widespread socio-economic exclusion – often without seeing any meaningful benefit from the wealth extracted around them.
Despite provisions in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) obligating mining companies to contribute to local development through social and labour plans (SLPS), compliance has been minimal. Community members continue to endure human rights violations and have limited access to basic services, job opportunities or infrastructure.
With the closure of coal mines now underway and global demand rising for transition minerals, mining-affected communities face yet another wave of uncertainty and possible exclusion. Without intentional, community-led planning, the risk of an unjust transition will simply perpetuate the exploitation and neglect of mining-affected communities – this time under the banner of “going green.”
The case study presents a viable alternative: a community-led, socially-owned renewable energy model that restores agency to communities by enabling them to shape and benefit directly from their local energy systems. It explores the viability of solar mini-farms and other decentralised energy solutions as catalysts for economic regeneration, energy access, skills development, and long-term community resilience.
The report also outlines the role of Eskom and other public institutions in enabling and supporting this shift, aligning with the broader vision of a Green New Eskom that is accountable, decentralised and committed to public benefit.
Key recommendations from the report include:
Public financing and enabling legislation to support socially owned renewable energy projects in mining-affected communities;
Mandatory investments by mining companies into community-led transition projects, as part of their social development obligations under the MPRDA;
Strengthened regulatory frameworks and transparent mechanisms to support procedural and distributive justice;
Capacity-building, training, and feasibility studies to ensure local ownership and long-term sustainability; and
The recognition of community-defined energy solutions within national Just Transition frameworks and climate policy.
“The findings affirm what communities have long stated: a just transition must be just. It must include redistribution of power and resources, and repair the historical harms caused by a mining economy rooted in colonialism and apartheid. It must centre those who have been excluded, dispossessed, and harmed and give them a meaningful say in shaping South Africa’s energy future,” said Robert Krause, Researcher and Acting Head of Programme: Environmental Justice at CALS.
“Too often, decisions are made about our future without our input,” said Katlego Malesa, SCMAC spokesperson. “This report is proof that we have the knowledge, the vision, and the will to lead our own transition. What we need now is investment, policy support, and real accountability.”
The full report, presented by community leaders, policy experts, legal practitioners, and renewable energy advocates who earlier today discussed its implications and the broader campaign for social ownership of renewable energy, can be downloaded here.
Africa stands at a critical juncture in the global energy landscape, rich in hydrocarbon reserves but burdened by energy poverty, foreign dependency, and the pressures of a shifting global energy paradigm.
Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Wole Ogunsanya
At the forefront of Africa’s strategy to address these issues is the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), a consortium of indigenous oilfield service companies leading a continental push toward local content development and strategic energy partnerships.
Founded in 1990, PETAN has evolved from advocating equitable opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to exporting oilfield expertise across Africa.
Its blueprint – built on indigenous capacity and regional collaboration – offers a practical path to energy independence and sustainable economic growth.
As more African nations discover oil and gas resources, the PETAN model is increasingly seen as a template for success.
In spite of persistent challenges such as regulatory uncertainty, limited access to finance, and technology gaps, PETAN remains resolute.
Its presence at global conferences like the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston has significantly amplified Nigeria’s footprint in the global energy space.
Through the Nigerian Pavilion at OTC 2025, PETAN showcased indigenous capabilities, fostered international partnerships, and reinforced its commitment to local content development.
With over 70 Nigerian participants and 30 Nigerian companies participating, the event marked a milestone in the country’s drive to position local firms on the global stage.
Mr. Emeka Ene, a former PETAN Chairman, described the significance of the platform.
Ene said: “The OTC pavilion has become a viable platform for exhibitors to showcase their innovations and attract investment into the Nigerian oil and gas industry.”
According to PETAN’s Publicity Secretary, Dr Innocent Akuvue, this visibility underscores Nigeria’s growing technical capacity and PETAN’s role in transforming policy into tangible outcomes.
“PETAN has been instrumental in translating the Local Content Act from policy to practice.
“We’ve moved from rhetoric to real capacity development; training engineers, fabricators, and service providers who now compete globally,” Akuvue said.
He said that PETAN member companies had invested significantly in technology transfer, infrastructure, and training.
“From developing fabrication yards to certifying technicians, their efforts have created jobs, retained in-country value, and enhanced technical resilience,” he added.
Chairman of PETAN, Mr. Wole Ogunsanya, emphasised that local content is more than a regulatory requirement – it’s a business imperative.
Ogunsanya said, “We see local content not just as compliance but as a strategy for sustainable growth.
“It’s about nurturing ecosystems where local innovation thrives and drives Africa’s energy future.”
He said that through engagement in international forums like OTC and African Energy Week, PETAN had emerged as a pan-African voice for indigenous capacity.
“In 2023, the association hosted the inaugural African Local Content Roundtable in Lagos, drawing stakeholders from Ghana, Angola, Uganda, and Mozambique,” he explained.
Ogunsanya noted, “Discussions centred on harmonising local content frameworks, regional training standards, and cross-border partnerships.
“One notable outcome has been PETAN’s technical support in Ghana and Equatorial Guinea, where Nigerian firms now collaborate with local companies to deliver oilfield services—strengthening intra-African cooperation and reducing dependence on foreign contractors.”
The chairman said that as the global energy landscape transitions, PETAN was aligning with the future.
He added that while hydrocarbons remain vital for Africa’s development, PETAN was actively investing in gas monetisation, renewable energy integration, and emission reduction technologies.
Ogunsanya stressed, “Gas is our transition fuel.
“Through investments in LPG distribution, flare reduction, and gas processing, PETAN companies are enabling cleaner energy solutions while driving inclusive growth.”
Ogunsanya said that to support this shift, PETAN had been working closely with the African Energy Chamber and the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) to shape balanced energy policies that address both sustainability and development.
“Our mission is to build an Africa where energy drives development, not dependency.
“And we’re doing it—one partnership at a time,” Ogunsanya affirmed.
An energy law expert, Dr Ayodele Oni of Bloomfield Law Practice, commended PETAN’s regional approach:
“PETAN understands that Africa’s energy sustainability depends on integration.
“They’re not just promoting Nigerian capacity but advocating for a continental ecosystem where African companies support African projects,” he explained.
Environmental experts in the South-South have stated that proper planning and waste management are keys to flood prevention in the region.
Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
The experts from Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, who made the remark while responding to the survey conducted on mitigating the impact of flooding in areas, maintained that, to curb flooding in Nigeria, there must be improved town planning as its importance in any ecological situation cannot be over-emphasised.
The respondents, however, said that proper education on the hydrograph, waste management and attitudinal change of residents in waste disposal would go a long way in mitigating the impact of floods.
Speaking in Cross River, Dr Joel Effiong, a Hydrological and Geographical Information System expert in the University of Calabar (Unical), said that flooding is worse in urban areas due to poor town planning.
According to him, building houses in the urban areas and making every inch of the premises a concrete floor is a recipe for flood.
‘’This is because it encourages water run off, preventing water from being absorbed into the soil.
“It is not enough to approve building plans, government should regulate by ensuring that there is enough space for water to infiltrate into the soil whenever it rains to reduce run offs.
Effiong maintained that water run offs are the major cause of flood and gully erosion.
Similarly, Prof. Eze Bassey of the Department of Geography in UniCal, called for a constant study and referral to the state’s hydrograph to properly warn residents on what to do before and after it rained.
He also called for the constant maintenance of the massive drainage channel in Calabar which moves the 80 per cent of water into river whenever it rained.
Bassey said this should not be the responsibility of the government alone as every community in the state should be responsible enough to clear their drains for free flow of water.
In his contributions, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Moses Osogi, said that the state had started the desilting of drains in the state and creating awareness on lifestyle changes.
He added that the state, in partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), had distributed hundreds of receptacle bins in urban areas for proper waste disposal.
“We have also set up a standing taskforce going round to arrest and send anyone disposing waste improperly to our mobile court to handle his or her case,” he said.
He said that the taskforce was also going after scavengers who scatter waste in the receptacle bins and forced a lot of the wastes that should be in the bins into the drainages.
Speaking in Rivers, Mr. Benson Abu, National Publicity Secretary, Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON), said the society had carried out enlightenment campaigns in the state.
According to him, poor waste management accounted for over 60 per cent cases of flood in Port Harcourt and environs.
“WAMASON had always advocated for proper waste management which includes waste collection, recycling as well as proper handling of plastic waste.’’
Abu stated that plastic waste contributed hugely to congestion of drainages and waterways which, he said, was the primary cause of flooding in metropolitan areas.
He, however, urged Rivers residents to ensure free flow of water channels by eschewing dumping refuse into the drains and ensuring waste-free surroundings.
Also responding, Mr. Atajit Francis, Sole Administrator, Andoni Local Government Area, said that the council had re-awakened the consciousness of grassroots dwellers to sanitation.
According to Francis, sanitation formed part of the mandates given to the 23 local government administrators by the Ibok-Ete Ibas-led administration.
“Sanitation when holistically addressed would not only tackle diseases but floods too.
“We are set to resume the compulsory monthly environmental sanitation exercise to ensure that our drainages and waterways are desilted,’’ he said.
Also contributing, an environmentalist, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said that town planning plays a critical role in mitigating floods and reducing their impact.
He urged the government to ensure proper town planning in the cities and communities in order to prevent construction in flood-prone areas.
Ebiaridor said that town planning promoted the use of floodplains for natural ecosystems which provided habitat for various plants and animals, acting as natural buffers against floods.
He added that with town planning, wetlands and agriculture areas were identified while drainage systems and green spaces were properly put in exact places to reduce flood.
Ebiaridor said that, without town planning, designing roads, buildings and bridges would have flaws as they might end up being built in flood-prone areas while emergency action against floods would be in vain.
According to him, proper town planning manages entire river basins effectively, supports groundwater recharge while decreasing surface runoff and can mitigate flooding in most cities and states in Nigeria.
He, however, highlighted the importance of strategic land use, infrastructure design, and environmental management as actions for flood mitigation.
Similarly, in Akwa Ibom, a town planner, Akpabio Ufot-Akpabio, stated that there must be adequate town or physical planning, management and development to mitigate flooding in the state and country.
He decried the situation where some states in the federation were still operating colonial town planning laws which had been obsolete and of no use.
He called on governments at all levels to be serious in the town planning system of the country to avoid flooding.
The town planner added that in spite of the warning signals by NiMet, some states were still not taking steps to plan for the flooding.
“As related to flooding in most part of the country, this is not the first time it has been occurring but the problem is that we are lacking in planning or what we can say inadequate planning in the country.
“The governments in most cases are not paying attention to planning both state and federal,’’ he said.
He added that the planning law, which was passed in Nigeria many years ago, had not been domisticated by most of the states in the country.
He said that most states did not have laws that regulate physical planning but were using the British or colonial planning law.
Ufot-Akpabio said that, in Akwa Ibom, colonial planning law is still in use but added that such planning is primitive.
According to him, development does not follow any set down pattern, people build indiscriminately and the construction pattern is poor.
In his contribution, Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said that the state government already embarked on desilting of the drains to ensure free flow of water and prevent flooding.
According to him, the government has approved the construction of Afaha Ube street and side drains to link Ikot Ekpene Road, which will help to alleviate flooding in the area.
“The State Government also partnered with the Federal Government to implement robust early warning systems, community engagement, and capacity-building programmes to involve residents in averting flooding.’’
Umanah added that the governor had directed Mr. Allan Ikim, the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), to ensure adequate desilting of the side drains across the metropolis.
According to him, government is also working on infrastructure projects, such as the Nkari Dam which will help to enhance irrigation farming, water supply, and flood control.
He said that these initiatives demonstrated the government’s commitment to addressing flooding in Akwa Ibom and improving the lives of its citizens.
Also speaking, Dr Charles Effiong identified the attitudes of residents of the state and Nigerians as part of the factors contributing to flooding in the country.
Effiong said that even when adequate town planning is being put in place, attitude of Nigerians must change to reduce flooding in the country.
He, therefore, called for a change of the attitude of Nigerians who dump their bags of waste into the drains, blocking the free flow of water channels, thereby causing flooding.
‘’This is a problem, you see people build shops and block drains, water will not flow the way it should flow.
‘’So attitudinal change has to be addressed, in terms of waste management and in terms of development.” he said.
He urged the state government to sensitise the residents on the best practices of waste disposal and against the habit of disposing waste into gutters and blocking drainages.
He urged residents to naturally inculcate the habit of desilting drainages, especially during raining season to avoid flooding.
An energy expert, Mr. Quadri Fatai, has advocated winding down of diesel-powered engines in the country in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) and fugitive methane emissions by 60 per cent.
Emission from a diesel-powered engine (power generator) in Nigeria
Fatai, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Alfa Design Nigeria Limited, who gave the advice on Monday, May 12, 2025, in an interview, noted that converting diesel-powered engines to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or transiting to alternative cleaner/greener energy and technology would stop carbon soot being emitted by diesel engines and guarantee energy security.
He said that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) guidelines on GHG emissions were aimed at reducing environmental and social impact, caused by the emissions of components of natural gas including methane and other compounds.
The expert explained that embracing cleaner technology would help to mitigate carbon output, especially carbon soot being emitted by a fuel engine, contributing majorly to environmental pollution and health hazards.
”As it is now, we are supposed to be winding down on all diesel-powered engines in the country based on the GHG emissions statement.
”Nigerian government had already pledged that by 2030 we are going to cut down our methane emissions, and we are going to stop flaring completely and also do away with carbon soot formation, a bye-product from diesel-fired engines.
”We have to do away with all these things because they normally absorb infrared radiation that comes from the outer space. Once they absorb it, they keep the earth warmer than what is anticipated.
”And that’s the effect on the climate change,’’ he said.
Fatai also explained that in view of high cost of diesel and the abundance of an alternative energy (gas) in the country, there was need to be economically wise and encourage usage of CNG.
”But staring us in our face is a solution of an alternative that all of us are supposed to come out and really agitate to see how this can be implemented as soon as possible to reduce impact, ” he said.
He added that in the bid to promote cleaner and affordable energy in the country, the Alfa design limited, a leading oil and gas company would soon begin conversion of diesel-powered engines to CNG in the country.
Nigeria signed on to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in Sept. 2016; and, consequently, began the implementation of several initiatives aimed at reducing emissions from all sectors of the economy.
As part of Nigeria’s commitment on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement, in 2021, it committed to reducing GHG emissions by 47 per cent in 2030, conditional on international support.
The pledge followed the signing into law of the country’s first climate bill after the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021, having set an ambitious global net zero targets by 2060.
To achieve Nigeria’s emission reduction targets of the NDCs, the key abatement measures are: elimination of routine gas flaring (100 per cent gas flaring eliminated by 2030) and fugitive emissions/leakages control (60 per cent Methane Reduction by 2030).
These measures were established under the NUPRC operators’ guidelines on the actions and mechanisms for the management of fugitive methane/GHG emissions from the upstream oil and gas operations.
