Human rights groups across Africa are horrified by the continued crackdown on peaceful protests and the abduction and detention of individuals suspected by the government of President William Ruto of spearheading resistance against his economic policies and police brutality.
Kenyan President, William Ruto
Growing discontent about the government policies led to peaceful protests in June 2024 when the government of Ruto proposed tax increases that had controversial clauses rejected by young Kenyans who used social media platforms as a tool of mobilization. Though the Kenyan Parliament amended the bill, removing some controversial clauses, it was still passed, leading to nationwide protests and heavy clashes with security forces.
Protests at the Parliament buildings were forcefully repressed by the police leading to at least 22 deaths. Since then, Kenyan security services have been accused of abducting, torturing and extra judicially murdering citizens suspected of being the leaders of the anti-government protests.
The latest incident was on 27 June 2025 when three human rights defenders – Mark Amani, Mulungwa Nzau and Mutunge Mwangi were abducted by security forces while travelling to the coastal city of Mombasa on a routine work trip on a bus.
Their bus was reported to have been intercepted by police from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and they were arrested and detained at a police station in Nairobi on grounds that they were involved in planning and organizing the violence and looting that took place on the fringes of the June 25th protests against police brutality and government policies in Nairobi and other cities.
On Monday June 30, 2025, they were arraigned in court and without any formal charges, the prosecution sought to detain them for a further 21 days to ‘facilitate investigations’ The prosecution alleges, without any facts, that they were involved in arson, house breakages and looting. The ruling on their further detention is on Wednesday July 2, 2025.
The trio are well known Human Rights Defenders involved with many grassroots social justice movements including the Kongamano La Mageuzi and there are numerous videos and photos of them peacefully participating in the June 25th protests. It is clear from footage on social media and the mainstream media that the looting and carnage was carried out by armed gangs recruited by politicians allied to the ruling party and protected by the police.
On June 24, Kenya Television Network and The Standard Newspaper published an expose of politicians and officials of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition planning the arming and deployment of the armed gangs in order to discredit the protestors. The detention of the trio comes in the wake of an ongoing crackdown against civic society organizations in Kenya with daily reports of abductions, summons by police and detentions all over the country.
The arrest and prosecution of the trio, without any formal charges, and the attempt by the state to detain them for an extended period is an attempt to silence them and stop them and other Kenyans from exercising their freedom of speech, conscience and association.
Human rights groups across Africa are in solidarity with Kenyans at this particular time when the country seems to be entering a particularly dark period of increased repression, gross abuse of human rights and a rapidly shrinking political and civic space.
They are unanimously demanding the following:
1. The immediate and unconditional release of Mark Amiani, Mulingwa Nzau and Mutunge Mwangi and an end to their detention and prosecution.
2. Full accountability and an independent investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) into police violence and misconduct including collusion with armed gangs to infiltrate peaceful protests and cause mayhem, violence and looting.
3. An Independent international commission to investigate the spate of abductions and murders of human rights defenders, bloggers and social justice activists.
4. State members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) should refer the situation in Kenya to the International ICC prosecutor for serious crimes.
Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, kicked off their participation at the 24th Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in Abuja with an elaborate exhibition on their operations which drew commendation from top government functionaries and other conference participants.
Dignitaries at Shell Booth during the 24th NOG Energy Week Conference & Exhibition…in Abuja
Among the visitors to the stand were the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Bayo Ojulari, who were conducted round by Business Value Manager, Chidi Nkazi.
SCiN are Diamond sponsors of the conference and are among many exhibiting companies from 85 countries. The exhibition features the positive impact of the Shell presence on the development of the country through the businesses run by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Ltd (SNEPCo), Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), All On and Daystar Power. These companies have achieved many milestones in deep-water production, gas supply to industries as well as provision of off-grid energy and renewables.
Highlighting some milestones, Chidi said SNEPCo and SNG paid combined royalties of $1.208 billion dollars to the Nigerian government last year. Shell is also investing in the future of Nigeria with the Final Investment Decision on the $5 billion Bonga North deep-water project, and SNEPCo increasing its interest in the OML 118, which includes the Bonga field, from 55% to 67.5%, through the acquisition of the 12.5% stake of TotalEnergies.
On its part, SNG serves more than 140 industrial and commercial customers in Ogun, Abia, and Rivers states while All On now has a total portfolio of 51 renewable energy companies, which have delivered more than 210,000 energy connections across the country. Daystar Power is offering integrated solar power to businesses in five countries in Africa, including Nigeria.
Chidi added: “A robust social investment portfolio by SCiN has also led to the implementation of programmes in education, health, employment generation as well as infrastructural development across communities in Nigeria.”
The participation of SCiN at NOG continues with Shell leaders making presentations and participating in key panel sessions.Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) today kicked off their participation at the 24th Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in Abuja with an elaborate exhibition on their operations which drew commendation from top government functionaries and other conference participants.
Among the visitors to the stand were the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Bayo Ojulari, who were conducted round by Business Value Manager, Chidi Nkazi.
SCiN are Diamond sponsors of the conference and are among many exhibiting companies from 85 countries. The exhibition features the positive impact of the Shell presence on the development of the country through the businesses run by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Ltd (SNEPCo), Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), All On and Daystar Power. These companies have achieved many milestones in deep-water production, gas supply to industries as well as provision of off-grid energy and renewables.
Highlighting some milestones, Chidi said SNEPCo and SNG paid combined royalties of $1.208 billion dollars to the Nigerian government last year. Shell is also investing in the future of Nigeria with the Final Investment Decision on the $5 billion Bonga North deep-water project, and SNEPCo increasing its interest in the OML 118, which includes the Bonga field, from 55% to 67.5%, through the acquisition of the 12.5% stake of TotalEnergies.
On its part, SNG serves more than 140 industrial and commercial customers in Ogun, Abia, and Rivers states while All On now has a total portfolio of 51 renewable energy companies, which have delivered more than 210,000 energy connections across the country. Daystar Power is offering integrated solar power to businesses in five countries in Africa, including Nigeria.
Chidi added: “A robust social investment portfolio by SCiN has also led to the implementation of programmes in education, health, employment generation as well as infrastructural development across communities in Nigeria.”
The participation of SCiN at NOG continues with Shell leaders making presentations and participating in key panel sessions.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) says it has recorded a 100 per cent availability on Major Crude Oil Pipelines in the country.
Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, New GCEO, NNPC Ltd
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Bashir Ojulari, said this while delivering a Keynote Address at the 24th NOG Energy Week (NOG) on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Abuja.
Ojulari said that, for the first time in a long while, the nation enjoyed 100 per cent crude oil pipelines availability throughout June 2025.
He said that the feat, which was possible through the industry-wide security interventions led by the NNPC Ltd., helped to boost crude oil production.
He, however, called for more investments to boost production, adding that the company had been able to turn the narrative around by consistently meeting its cash-call obligations to Joint Venture operations.
“The narrative has always been NNPC not having the ability to pay its cash call. Today the NNPC is able to raise finance for all its operations,” he said.
The GCEO also said that the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline had successfully crossed the River Niger, boosting the hope of the project’s completion by fourth quarter (Q4) 2025.
He said that the feat was achieved through innovative contract reengineering and industry collaboration.
According to him, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) also placed NNPC Ltd. in a good position to live up to its responsibility of leading the industry in financing projects.
Also speaking, Mr. Abdulrazaq Isa, Chairman, Independent Petroleum Producers’ Group (IPPG), said that the ongoing reform in the Nigerian oil and gas industry was at a critical phase as favourable industry policies continue to be formulated.
Isa said that he implementation of the PIA was being accelerated while the International Oil Companies (IOCs) divestments had been concluded, with critical leadership appointments made at the NNPC Ltd.
“The immediate focus for us as an industry is to reposition and key into the marching order given by the President to the NNPC Ltd.
“This is to raise national production to three million barrels per day and 12 billion cubic feet of gas by 2030.
“The industry must provide an answer to two pertinent questions:
“Where will this incremental production of about 1.3 million barrels of oil per day and 4.5 billion cubic feet of gas come from within the next five years?
“What will be required to sustainably grow crude oil and gas production in line with this presidential target?”
He said that, given the five-year timeline, the bulk of the incremental crude oil and gas production would come from the recently divested assets in the onshore and shallow water acreages.
“These assets are primarily in the hands of IPPG members.
“We are quite aware of this national responsibility and have already begun implementing key strategic plans to ramp up production from these divested assets,” Isa said.
He urged the indigenous players, who now contribute over 50 per cent to the nation’s crude oil and gas production, to ensure a meaningful shift in the industry for a desired impact on national development.
The Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria) has commended the Lagos State Government for making a monumental stride in environmental protection with full enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics.
Dr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director of SRADeV Nigeria
This is contained in a statement shared on its Facebook page on Tuesday, July 1,2025.
The statement described the decision as a bold policy move that would ensure environmental protection.
“This bold policy move is a critical win in Nigeria’s fight against plastic pollution and a major leap toward achieving a circular economy and protecting public health and the environment.
“At SRADev Nigeria, we celebrate this milestone and call on other states to follow suit.
“Together, we can #BeatPlasticPollution and build a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Nigeria,” it said.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said at a news conference on Tuesday that many believed the government would consider another shift in the date after about 18 months moratorium.
Wahab said the ban of styrofoam in the state was for the safety and well being of Lagos residents.
“Lagos has not banned the production of all the categories of plastics in the state. The producers and dealers have the option of selling them outside the state,” Wahab said.
He listed the items banned by the state to include styrofoam, disposable cups and cutlery, light weight nylon bags, amongst others.
“If after 18 months moratorium, the producers have not been able to embrace alternatives to SUPs, it only means they have no intention of complying,” Wahab said.
The Federal Government says Nigeria is currently producing about 1.745 million barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) targeting to hit two million bpd by the end of 2025.
Heineken Lokpobiri
Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil) said this while declaring the 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week open on Tuesday, July 1, in Abuja.
Lokpobiri said that the production target for 2025 budget was based on 2.06 million bpd, adding that it must ramp up production to hit two million.
“We can succeed when we work together to be strong enough to deliver.
“I urge the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) to change its target ambition to producing above two million barrels by 2025,” he said.
Lokpobiri said that in 2023 when he was appointed as the minister, there was no investment for 10 years due to legal framework and other challenges.
He said that from 2023, the narratives changed and investments were recorded as a result of deliberate policies and reforms that worked, and absolute increase in investors confidence in Nigeria.
Lokpobiri also appealed to the National Assembly to reduce the number of summons of the IOCs and industry players for legislative hearing.
“Part of the complaints in the industry is about the frequent summons at the National Assembly and that should be reduced.
“I was a senator for many years, we knew the consequences of some of these actions, before summoning you need to look at the issues criticallly and make consultations.
“What is the business of summoning the IOCs on procurement issues that happened many years ago. They should not be summoned for frivolous reasons,” the minister said.
On the African Energy Bank, Lokpobiri said that advertisement was placed for the office of its President, adding that in the next few days Afreximbank and other partners would convene a shareholders’ meeting.
Also speaking, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said that Nigeria had proven gas reserves of over 200 trillion cubic feet.
Ekpo said that value would only be created un the gas sector when resources were developed and utilised.
He said that through the “Decade of Gas” initiative, the country was focused on translating its vast gas wealth into tangible socio-economic benefits.
This, he said, included driving industrialisation, expanding power generation, increasing domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) usage, deepening gas-to-transport adoption, and growing gas export capacity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2025 NOG Energy Week Conference and Exhibition is with the theme, “Accelerating Global Energy Progress through Investment, Partnerships, and Innovation”.
UN weather experts have said that the blistering early-summer heatwave that brought life-threatening temperatures across much of the northern hemisphere is a worrying sign of things to come.
Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)
Three days after Spain’s national weather service confirmed a record 46°C reading in the southern town of El Granado, there’s been little let-up in stifling day and night temperatures across the continent and beyond.
In Barcelona, a road sweeper reportedly died on Saturday, June 28, 2025, after completing her shift, prompting an investigation and widespread public appeals to keep out of the sun wherever possible.
“Everybody is at risk,” insisted Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), said in a statement on Tuesday, July 1.
“If you go out without water in the middle of the day, to do jogging, have a bike ride, you will probably have health problems or even die.”
If part of the reason for Europe’s heat misery is because it is in the grip of a strong high-pressure weather front trapping hot air from northern Africa, Nullis noted that “human-induced climate change” is the source of these acute weather events.
Another part of the climate puzzle is that sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean are exceptionally high for this time of year.
“It’s the equivalent of a land heatwave,” the WMO spokesperson said.
“Extreme heat creeps up on you,” she added, while dangerously warm conditions are becoming “more frequent, more intense” because of global warming caused by burning fossil fuels.
“It’s something we have to learn to live with,” Nullis maintained.
She highlighted the importance of early warnings from national meteorological and hydrological services to prevent more deaths from extreme heat events – which are often “under-reflected” in official statistics.
According to the UN agency, night-time minimum temperatures and daytime maximum temperatures broke monthly station records for June in parts of Western and Southwestern Europe, partly explaining why the heatwave is so draining.
“The frequency and intensity of extreme heat events is increasing in Europe and by 2050, about half the European population may be exposed to high or very high risk of heat stress during summer,” Nullis explained.
“What is exceptional – and I would stress exceptional but not unprecedented – is the time of year. We are in July 1, and we are seeing episodes of extreme heat which normally we would see later on.”
WMO insisted that warnings from national weather services and coordinated heat-health action plans are increasingly important to protect public safety and wellbeing.
The UN agency is promoting these efforts through its Early Warnings for All platform.
A key component is the WMO Coordination Mechanism (WCM) which supports crisis-prone and conflict-affected regions with advice. WMO curates authoritative weather, climate and water information from countries such as its WCM Global Hydromet Weekly Scan.
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), a subsidiary of Shell Plc, on Monday, June 30, 2025, confirmed plan to acquire TotalEnergies’ 12.5 % stake in deepwater Bonga Field.
Shell
Consequence upon this, an agreement has been signed by the two parties.
Shell confirmed the divestment in a statement on Monday, saying the transaction, when completed, would increase its interest in the OML 118 PSC from 55% to 67.5%.
The stake is in the OML 118 Production Sharing Contract (OML 118 PSC), an oil mining lease offshore Nigeria that includes the Bonga field.
SNEPCo is the operator under the OML 118 PSC. It currently produces from the Bonga field via the Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel and announced the development of the Bonga North field in December 2024.
“Following our final investment decision on Bonga North last year, this acquisition brings another significant investment in Nigeria’s deep-water that contributes to sustained liquids production and growth in our Upstream portfolio,” said Peter Costello, Shell’s President, Upstream.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. The transaction is expected to be completed before the end of this year.
SNEPCo (55%) operates the Bonga field in partnership with Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd. (20%), Nigerian Agip Exploration Ltd. (12.5%), and TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Ltd. (12.5%), on behalf of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
After completion of the transaction, SNEPCo will hold a 67.5% stake, alongside Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd. (20%) and Nigerian Agip Exploration Ltd. (12.5%).
This targeted investment contributes towards growing Shell’s combined Integrated Gas and Upstream total production by 1% per year to 2030 and contributes towards sustaining our 1.4 million barrels per day of liquids production.
The Bonga field is a deep-water development located in OML 118, at water depths exceeding 1,000 meters. Production from Bonga began in 2005, with a capacity to produce 225,000 barrels of oil per day. The Bonga field produced its one-billionth barrel of crude oil in 2023.
In December 2024, Shell announced a final investment decision on Bonga North, a subsea tie-back to the Bonga FPSO. Bonga North currently has an estimated recoverable resource volume of more than 300 million barrels of oil equivalent and is expected to reach peak production of 110,000 barrels of oil a day, with first oil anticipated by the end of the decade.
The estimated peak production and recoverable resources mentioned above are 100% total gross figures. The recoverable resources are currently classified as 2P (proven and probable) under the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Petroleum Resources Management System.
The Lagos State Government (LASG) on Monday, June 30, 2025, urged traders and residents to keep their environment clean and imbibe good environmental sanitation and hygiene practices.
Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said this in a statement made available in Lagos.
The statement was issued and signed by the Director Public Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Kunle Adeshina.
Wahab said this when he received the founder of Kokun Foundation, Mr. Olukokun Adepeju, who led some widows and volunteers on a roadshow and sensitisation visit to his office in Ikeja
He said it was compulsory for everyone to be on the same page with the government for a sustainable environment.
“The Clean Market Initiative, I am glad Kokun himself led this march.
“We, as a government, can’t just do enough without the residents’ support.
“So, I implore you all to keep doing this Clean Market Sensitisation until we get all our people to be on the same page with government on environmental hygiene.
“Cleanliness is next to godliness. That’s what all our religious books tell us,” Wahab said.
He said the present administration was determined to continually promote a clean and healthy environment.
Wahab added that the government was determined to encourage community participation in maintaining a clean environment and waste management to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks in the state.
“The cleanliness we are talking about starts from each and every one of us.
“How do we treat our environment? How do we treat our markets? How do we treat our waste? We must always take cognizance of the aforementioned at all times for our safety,” Wahab said.
He said the residents must imbibe good environmental sanitation as a way of life.
“Such residents must clean their and clean their tertiary drainage, while waste management officials are always available to collect their wastes and disposed it of properly,” he said.
Wahab reiterated that residents should desist from dumping their wastes on the roads, road median or setback, open spaces and canals.
He added that they should avoid open urination or defecation, saying that the government would continue to enforce and prosecute defaulters in line with the environmental laws of the state.
He urged traders to stop selling their wares on the road and move into the markets in order to continually promote a clean, healthy, safe, flood free, and sustainable environment.
“On behalf of the LASG, we appreciate this laudable initiative. Words alone are not enough to express how we feel about this clean-up market sensitisation initiative carried out by the Kokun Foundation.
“On behalf of everyone here, I want to say thank you very much, and don’t let it stop here. Keep sending the message across to everyone you know.
“Keep telling them about maintaining a good environmental sanitation lifestyle,” he said
In his response, Adepeju expressed appreciation to the state government for ensuring a sustainable environment.
He added that continuous effort to clean up and sanitise the state by the government was for the best interest of all residents.
Adepeju said the group had gone to various markets to sensitise them on maintaining a clean environment, while pledging that the foundation would continue to sensitise market women and men.
“This is to continue to inculcate the culture of engaging in environmental sanitation always as well as endeavour to dispose of waste responsibly,” he said.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has pledged its full commitment to implementing the recently introduced “Nigeria First” policy, a key directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration aimed at boosting local production and patronage of locally made goods and services, reducing dependence on imported items.
Felix Omatsola Ogbe, head of the NCDMB
Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, made this commitment at the opening ceremony of the ongoing NOG Energy Week in Abuja on Monday, June 30, 2025. He described the policy as a strong reinforcement of the Board’s core mandate of promoting Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry.
“For Nigeria, energy sufficiency goes beyond availability, it is about building resilience, ensuring sustainability, and protecting our sovereignty. That is why we say local content is not just a policy, it is a strategic imperative.” Ogbe noted.
Speaking on theme, “Achieving Energy Sufficiency through Local Content implementation”, Ogbe observed that achieving energy sufficiency would require deepening Nigeria’s local capabilities across the oil and gas value chain from exploration and production to processing, manufacturing, and services. He said prioritising local capacity would not only retain economic value within Nigeria but also mitigate supply disruptions, create jobs, and foster technological growth.
The “Nigeria First” policy is the latest in a series of government interventions designed to strengthen domestic content. The NCDMB boss referenced landmark initiatives such as the NOGICD Act 2010, Executive Orders 001 and 005, and the Presidential Directives on Local Content issued in 2023, which were aligned with President Tinubu’s 8-Point Agenda.
According to Ogbe, the new policy is rooted in a clear principle: “All goods or services that are produced and/or available locally will not be procured from foreign sources unless there is a clear and justifiable reason.” “This aligns with Section 3(1) of the NOGICD Act, which mandates first consideration for Nigerian made goods and services provided they meet industry standards.”
The Executive Secretary pointed that to translate the policy into action, the Board announced a series of implementation steps which include the development of a dedicated “Nigeria First Procurement Policy” for the Board, integration of the policy into internal systems, and its application in the review of Nigerian Content Plans (NCPs), Compliance Certifications, and Authorisation Certificates.
He disclosed further that NCDMB will commission two major baseline studies to verify the capacities of Nigerian service providers and to identify locally manufactured consumables used in the oil and gas sector.
“The Nigeria First policy is a bold commitment to national pride, industrial competence, and long-term economic sustainability. At the NCDMB, we are prepared to lead the charge in making this vision a reality,” Ogbe committed.
Similarly, NCDMB has unveiled a restructured approach to its N50bn Community Contractors Financing Scheme – a key component of the Nigerian Content Intervention (NCI) Fund.
Originally launched in 2018 to support indigenous contractors from oil-producing host communities, the Community Contractors Fund had recorded little traction until recent efforts under the current Executive Secretary, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, set the scheme on a path to revival.
Moderating a session on Deepening Community Participation Through Accessible Financing, NCDMB’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, noted that while other products under the NCI Fund have performed remarkably well, the Community Contractors Fund had lagged behind. He attributed the renewed focus on the scheme to the Executive Secretary’s personal commitment to grassroots empowerment.
General Manager, Nigerian Content Development Fund, Ms. Fatima Mohammed, noted that new features had been introduced to the fund. The restructured fund allows for increased borrowing limits – up to ₦100 million for community contractors in the oil and gas industry, with single digit interest rate per annum. Beneficiaries must be verified community contractors with valid projects for international or indigenous oil and gas companies.
The Board also introduces simplified collateral terms, and plans to carry out extensive sensitization programmes, with disbursements expected in the coming months.
She added: “We want to see host communities actively participate in the oil and gas ecosystem. After a comprehensive review, we discovered that the centralised structure of the scheme was limiting its effectiveness. We’ve now decentralised it through the involvement of Performing Financial Institutions (PFIs).”
Speaking on the panel, the Bank of Industry’s Head of Oil and Gas, Mr. Gabriel Yemidale, acknowledged past challenges in implementing the scheme but expressed optimism about the renewed collaboration between BOI, NCDMB, and selected PFIs such as FCMB.
“We didn’t abandon the scheme. What was missing was alignment. With FCMB now on board and funds already allocated, we expect much better reach at the grassroots. BOI will also ensure monthly loan performance reports and quarterly visits to beneficiaries to monitor impact,” Yemidale said.
FCMB’s Head of SME Assets, Oluremi Agboola, described the bank as a “go-to partner” for SME financing and affirmed its readiness to drive the fund’s success.
“We would likely revisit our interest rates to make the product more affordable – thanks to the ES’s impact-driven push. We are also offering financial literacy, monitoring and evaluation training, and business support through the FCMB Business Zone,” Agboola noted.
Another information was that eligibility is limited to the firms with ₦500,000 annual turnover, to ensure participation and impact on small contractors.
Another member of the panel, Director of Corporate Strategy and Planning,Trexim Holdings, Mr Olumide Odewole, emphasised the importance of sustainability and long-term results.
“We must build a framework that guarantees impact – through quality delivery, governance structures, and training. That’s how we build a resilient supply chain in the sector,” he said.
The revamped scheme marks a renewed commitment by NCDMB to close funding gaps in the sector and ensure that oil-producing communities are not just stakeholders in name, but active participants in Nigeria’s energy economy.
When, during the 1920s, the American public began to identify smoking as the cause of their persistent cough, throat irritation, and other related diseases, tobacco companies – fearing a threat to their profits – began a devious media blitz. Using mostly models who posed as doctors, they falsely claimed that cigarettes were harmless or that some cigarette brands were less harmful than others.
Vaping
Almost 90 years after, the tobacco and allied industries, especially Big Tobacco – the world’s four largest transnational tobacco companies and their subsidiaries that keep the tobacco epidemic going – are still neck deep in the business of duping people that their products are “less harmful.” Conscious that smoking’s deadly effects have been exposed, but driven by the stupendous profits they make from producing and selling products of death and diseases, Big Tobacco is relentlessly devising new means to remain in their noxious business.
Top among the addictive novel products the industry now admits are harmful, but “safer alternatives”– whatever that means – are electronic cigarettes. (e-cigarettes), sometimes called e-cigs, vapes, vape pens, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).
If the industry has its way, it will have the world believe these toxic products are not harmful and should be consumed, whether as an alternative or in addition to cigarettes and other traditional tobacco poisons that the industry still manufactures, advertises and sells in billions every year.
In furtherance of this dangerous scam, the industry is attempting to hoodwink the public into embracing what it calls ‘World Vape Day’, which it claims is to be celebrated on May 30.
This push comes as Nigeria finds itself waging war on a growing nicotine epidemic. Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical compound primarily found in tobacco plants, cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco and nearly all e-cigarettes. According to the American Lung Association, nicotine is as addictive as heroin or cocaine,
Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling aerosols, often referred to as vapour, which is produced by an e-cigarette or similar device. The term is used because e-cigarettes do not produce tobacco smoke, but rather an aerosol, often mistaken for water vapour, that consists of fine particles. Many of these particles contain varying amounts of toxic chemicals, which have been linked to heart and respiratory diseases and cancer.
While the industry claims it promotes vaping as part of its so-called tobacco harm-reduction (THR) strategy for persons wishing to quit smoking, vaping marketing, appeal, and impact tell another story—one of addiction, health risks, and a dangerous gateway to smoking for youths in Nigeria and globally. In other words, Big Tobacco’s promotion of vaping as a THR is all smoke and mirrors, the latest trick in a long line of decades-long deception that has now been repackaged to impress unsuspecting publics.
Vaping: A Gateway to Cigarettes
The reality is that for most people, vaping is a gateway to smoking. Evidence abounds that vaping isn’t a neutral alternative—it paves the way to cigarette smoking and addiction.
Furthermore, studies show that vaping among children leads to later cigarette use and that adolescents who vape are significantly more likely to start smoking combustible tobacco. The Australian, for instance, cites a report showing that men aged 18–24 who vape had a 59 percent higher chance of transitioning to smoking and 33 percent more likely to try illicit drugs. Even without overt vaping, youth nicotine dependence can alter brain wiring during development—heightening susceptibility to other substances.
Nigeria’s Emerging Vape Crisis
Several studies, as well as anecdotal evidence, show that vaping is gaining traction in Lagos and beyond. A Nigerian study reports a lifetime prevalence of vaping between 5.8 percent and 19.8 percent, with 11.8 percent current users. Another Lagos-focused survey found 7.9 percent had tried e-cigarettes.
Beyond addiction, vaping damage extends to respiratory problems, mental health harm, and exposure to other substances. Early vaping has been linked with poor lung function, depression, anxiety, and behavioural issues in youths worldwide.
A UK study presents a stark warning: kids spending over seven hours daily on social media are four times more likely to vape, with youth exposure to vape marketing via influencers and ads a key driver.
In Nigeria, flavoured vapes and sleek devices easily attract teenagers who see vaping as harmless and trendy.
Weak Regulations, Big Consequences
Nigeria currently allows the sale and use of vape products almost without age restrictions, even in indoor public places. Flavoured pods and disposables flood the market. Laws designed to protect minors—like smoking bans—don’t explicitly cover vaping. This regulatory vacuum is fuelling a youth nicotine crisis.
Disposable vapes – sleek, colourful, inexpensive – are notoriously youth-friendly globally. In the UK, nearly 20 percent of kids have tried them, with disposables dominating the market.
In the US, flavoured products are driving youth vaping. Nearly 90 percent of youth e-cigarette users use flavoured products, with fruit, candy/desserts/other sweets, mint and menthol reported as the most popular flavours. Worse yet, many of the kids are using these products most days or every day, a sign of addiction.
This environmental and health concern has prompted bans in Australia, and New Zealand, and discussions in Canada and Ireland.
What Nigerians Can Do
Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. There is a pressing need for a comprehensive response to protect youth.
Beginning with policy and regulation, Nigeria can enforce age limits (18+), ban flavoured and disposable vapes aimed at youth, close legal loopholes allowing indoor vaping and introduce excise taxes to make youth vaping less affordable.
Importantly, Nigeria’s suspended excise as well as ad valorem taxes on tobacco products must be reinstated as a deliberate measure to strengthen tobacco control.
In 2022, Nigeria introduced a progressive tax regime, raising the ad valorem rate from 20 to 30 percent and introducing a specific excise tax on tobacco and vaping products, scheduled to increase gradually from 2022 to 2024. Alongside the ad valorem hike, the specific excise rate on cigarettes was set to rise from ₦58 to ₦84 per pack of 20 sticks in 2022, then to ₦94 in 2023, and ₦104 in 2024.
However, under industry pressure and claims of economic hardship, the government suspended the implementation of these taxes in 2023 and reduced them to their 2022 levels, a move that weakened deterrence and emboldened tobacco and vape companies to further flood the market, especially targeting young people. Restoring and fully implementing these taxes is critical to reducing affordability, curbing consumption, and signaling Nigeria’s commitment to protecting public health over corporate profits.
There is also a lot of work to be done on public awareness and education. The country ought to launch or fund media advocacy warning on nicotine addiction, youth brain damage, respiratory harm, and gateway risks. Parents and educators should also be equipped to identify vapes and initiate discussions with children.
Research and Monitoring should also be strengthened. This will involve strengthening data collection on youth vaping, including usage patterns, products, and health outcomes. Collaboration should also be initiated internationally to access best practices and policy evidence.
Lastly, youth support and cessation services are critical. This requiresthe funding of accessible nicotine‑dependence programs for young people, while counselling services—including digital — should be made available to help people quit vaping.
A Call to Action: Nigeria’s Future at Stake
Every percentage point increase in youth vaping represents thousands of lives at risk. The adolescent brain, vulnerable and developing, deserves protection – not exploitation via hidden marketing and weak policy.
If vaping companies succeed, Nigeria could witness a nation of nicotine-dependent youth – disillusioned by empty promises of safety, trapped in addiction, and diverted from the fight against cigarette smoking.
But there is hope. With decisive action – effective regulation, public education, and youth support – Nigeria can safeguard its youth from nicotine addiction, prevent vaping from becoming a gateway to smoking and other substance abuse and foster a future where healthy minds and lungs outshine short-lived vapour clouds.
By Robert Egbe, tobacco control advocate at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
