ITREALMS Media has officially joined the PREVENT Waste Alliance, a global network of organisations committed to minimising waste, eliminating pollutants, and maximising the reutilisation of resources in the economy.
Anika Schumann on behalf of the global Secretariat of the PREVENT Waste Alliance based in Bonn, Germany, confirmed ITREALMS Media’s membership via email, stating: “First of all, I would like to officially inform you that your membership has been confirmed by the Steering Committee and that your organisation is a member of the PREVENT Waste Alliance now. Welcome!”
Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, Lead Consulting Strategist/Group Executive Editor at ITREALMS Media
As a member of the PREVENT Alliance, ITREALMS Media will work closely with the alliance to promote sustainability and reduce waste.
According to Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, Lead Consulting Strategist/Group Executive Editor at ITREALMS Media, “We believe that our membership in this esteemed alliance will enhance our capacity to address environmental challenges and provide opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing with like-minded organisations.”
Nweke further said, “We are excited to join the PREVENT Alliance and work with other members to promote sustainability and reduce waste. We believe that our collective efforts will have a significant impact on the environment and contribute to a more circular economy.”
The PREVENT Alliance focuses on various areas, including plastics, e-waste, organic waste, and circular economy, among others. ITREALMS Media looks forward to engaging with the alliance’s working groups and contributing to the development of innovative solutions to waste management challenges.
ITREALMS Media, through ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue initiative since 2020, aims to raise awareness about the environmental and health impacts of electronic waste, promote sustainable e-waste management practices, and advocate for policies and regulations that support a circular economy.
With less than 100 days remaining until the opening of the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20) or World Wildlife Conference, the countdown has officially begun. On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the host country Uzbekistan unveiled the official slogan for the landmark event: “CITES at 50 in Samarkand: Bridging Nature and People.”
The slogan reflects both a historic milestone – marking the 50th anniversary of the Convention – and the unique role that Samarkand will play as a meeting point of civilisations, cultures, and conservation efforts. Set to take place from November 24 to December 5, 2025, CITES CoP20 is expected to bring together thousands of scientific, legal, enforcement and trade experts representing governments, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, private sector entities, youth networks and more from across the globe.
CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero
The announcement was made in Tashkent by Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who emphasised the deeper meaning behind the chosen phrase.
“This is more than a slogan. It encapsulates our vision for the future – where conservation is not seen as separate from people, but as a shared path forward,” said Mr. Abdukhakimov. “Samarkand, with its centuries-old tradition of connecting East and West, will serve as a fitting venue to celebrate CITES’ 50-year journey and shape its course for the years to come.”
The unveiling comes on the heels of Uzbekistan’s recent launch of the CoP20 logo, which drew global praise for blending natural symbols like the Argali and Rhodiola semenovii with Samarkand’s iconic and historical architecture. Together, the logo and the new slogan place a clear focus on the link between biodiversity and sustainable use – a core principle of the CITES framework.
Ms. Ivonne Higuero, CITES Secretary-General, welcomed the announcement: “As we mark half a century of international collaboration through CITES, this slogan captures the spirit of CITES and the role it plays in bringing 184 countries and the European Union to promote co-existence between people and wildlife interlinking science and policy and conserving these species of animals and plants for future generations.
“It reminds us that effective conservation of wild fauna and flora must be grounded in dialogue, shared purpose, and practical action. We thank Uzbekistan for offering not only a location for our next CoP, but a powerful message to guide it.”
As the 20th World Wildlife Conference, CITES CoP20 is especially significant: beyond commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Convention, it arrives at a time of intensifying pressures on wildlife due to habitat loss, overexploitation, wildlife crime, all exacerbated by the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Decisions taken in Samarkand will influence global wildlife policy for years to come, including potential amendments to species listings and strengthening implementation measures.
Uzbekistan’s hosting of CoP20 also represents a growing recognition of Central Asia’s vital role in global biodiversity conservation. Samarkand, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, offers a backdrop of stunning historical significance and unique wildlife such as the Caspian monitor, the Eurasian scops owl and the Turkestan lynx.
As the world looks toward November, preparations are accelerating. Proposals for amendments to the CITES Appendices have been submitted, the CoP20 agenda is taking shape, and Samarkand is preparing to open its gates to a global community united by a common cause.
For CITES, for Uzbekistan, and for the planet, the road to CoP20 is well underway – with less than 100 days left to a historic gathering that promises to not only bridge nature and people but also strengthen the Convention’s achievement of its Strategic Vision – for a world where all international wildlife trade is legal and sustainable.
The Federal Government on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, in Lagos assured Nigerians that it would make tertiary institutions in the country energy sufficient by 2026 through provision of mini grids.
The Minister of Education, Mr. Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance at the inauguration of a newly constructed Olatunji Bello Auditorium at the Lagos State University (LASU), Epe Campus.
Minister of Education, Mr. Tunji Alausa
The auditorium was provided by Mr. Olatunji Bello, a former Commissioner for Environment in Lagos State, and husband of LASU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello.
Alausa said that provision of the mini grids was a commitment by President Bola Tinubu to students, universities and other tertiary institutions.
“By this time next year, literally all tertiary institutions in the country will have mini-grids that will make them energy sufficient.
“With energy sufficiency, we would unleash the capabilities of our youths in the area of research, technology and everything they do.
“Join me in thanking President Tinubu for his commitment to education development,” he said.
Alausa said that a five-megawatt mini-grid had already been approved for LASU’s Epe Campus.
He added that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) would donate 11MW mini grid for the main campus of LASU at Ojo.
The minister praised Olatunji Bello for building the 550-seat ultra-modern auditorium, saying that it was a testament to how committed Nigerian could be in shaping institutions and inspiring generations.
Lagos State Gov., Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who inaugurated the auditorium, praised Bello for fulfilling his promise to invest in education.
“This edifice is more than a building; it is a beacon of knowledge, creativity, cultural exchange and intellectual engagement,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Sanwo-Olu said that, in the next 60 days, his administration would inaugurate the largest university library in Nigeria at the Ojo Campus of LASU.
He said that the library would be inaugurated alongside other facilities.
“We remain resolute in our commitment to strengthening LASU’s place as Nigeria’s foremost state university.
“With projects such as these, our vision of a globally-competitive institution is within reach,” he added.
In his goodwill message, a former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, described Bello’s action as a demonstration of gratitude and selflessness.
According to him, many Nigerians spend hundreds of millions of Naira on parties for milestone birthdays, but Bello decided to channel resources into a project that will benefit the education sector and the general society.
Osoba described Bello as a man of honour who had remained committed to services to humanity and education development.
In his address, Bello said that the gesture was his way of investing in posterity.
“The government alone cannot do it. Private individuals who have the means should invest in public tertiary education to create more opportunities.
“When God gives you a vision, God will also provide the means in miraculous ways.
“God’s miracle, sometimes, comes by having some brilliant ideas suddenly deposited in your mind,” he said.
He noted that construction of the auditorium began in 2021 with the support of his friends, who converted their intended birthday gifts into cash donations for the purpose.
Bello said that he remained committed to providing the facility and even sold his property to ensure its completion.
Bello urged LASU students to make maximum use of the facility.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, said that the facility represented more than architectural beauty.
“It is a strategic investment in academic excellence and institutional identity.
“It reinforces the fundamental truth that when we invest in education, we invest in tomorrow’s leaders.
“Bello has, through word and deed, inscribed his name in the permanent record of LASU’s growth story.
“This is making infrastructure available and accessible for seamless academic and administrative operations,” she said.
She said that her administration had made strategic investments in expanding and upgrading facilities at the Epe campus of LASU.
“This includes construction of Iraye Gate House, completion of the first phase comprehensive fencing and proper demarcation between the campus and the adjoining Nigerian Army Barracks.”
She thanked her husband for providing the auditorium, giving that assurance that the facility would be optimally utilised, meticulously maintained and deeply cherished.
Leading medical and environmental experts have urged the adoption of clean cooking energy to tackle household air pollution and protect public health.
The call was made at a stakeholders’ forum on clean fuel and cookstove implementation on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, in Lagos.
Participants at the stakeholders’ forum on clean fuel and cookstove implementation in Lagos
The initiative is funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), in partnership with New York University, LASUTH, and LASUCOM.
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) also serves as a partner in the project.
Delivering a goodwill message, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos Commissioner for Health, commended the collaboration and described clean cooking as a pressing public health necessity.
Represented by Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Abayomi stressed that the gathering was focused on implementing practical clean energy solutions.
He noted that household air pollution causes millions of premature deaths annually, disproportionately affecting women and children in vulnerable communities.
Abayomi added that clean cooking reduces maternal risks, childhood pneumonia, and long-term illnesses such as hypertension and dementia.
He also highlighted additional benefits, including reduced deforestation, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and household economic savings.
He emphasised the need for affordable, culturally acceptable clean fuels, while encouraging local industries to drive sustainable adoption.
Prof. Ololade Wright of LASUCOM and LASUTH noted that millions of Nigerians still depended on harmful fuels such as firewood, charcoal, sawdust, dung, and kerosene.
She warned that these fuels release fumes damaging the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, raising risks of hypertension, stroke, and pneumonia, especially for women and children.
Wright called for government action to increase awareness and expand access to alternatives such as bioethanol stoves, LPG, and renewable cooking technologies.
She said the Clean Fuel, Clean Cookstove Project aims to drive large-scale transition from polluting fuels to sustainable, affordable clean options for households.
“Clean cooking is a pathway to healthier families, cleaner air, and climate resilience, and Nigeria cannot afford delay,” Wright stressed.
Prof. Gbenga Ogedegbe of New York University added that household air pollution is linked not only to respiratory disease but also to hypertension, dementia, and impaired child cognition.
He noted that the health burden is higher in low-resource countries like Nigeria, underscoring the urgency of the project.
Dr Tunde Ajayi, LASEPA’s General Manager, emphasised environmental benefits, stating that clean cooking improves household environments, reduces climate impacts, and enhances Lagos air quality.
He said monitoring shows that cutting emissions from cooking, traffic, and generators directly improves the air people breathe.
Ajayi added that the project supports both cleaner energy and local innovations in air quality monitoring.
The experts urged governments at all levels to expand awareness, ensure fuel accessibility, and strengthen policies for widespread adoption of clean cooking.
The aim remains to reduce household air pollution and its severe health and environmental consequences.
The Delta State Government on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to boost renewable energy, and expand electricity access to underserved communities.
The MoU was signed in Abuja at the REA State-by–State Roundtable Engagement with Delta with the theme, “Unlocking Distributed Energy Investments for Industrial Growth and inclusive Access.”
Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State
Speaking at the ceremony, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori emphasised the willingness of the state government to participate in impactful programmes and offered by REA.
“I must emphasise that we view these programmes not only as energy access initiatives, but as powerful tools for inclusive economic growth, enterprise development, and rural transformation.
“Access to renewable energy is a cornerstone for unlocking productivity, attracting investments, and enhancing the livelihoods of our people, particularly in communities that have long been upset and underserved.
“Delta is committed to leveraging these programmes to accelerate the delivery of energy solutions that align with our medium-term development plan 2024-2027 and the more agenda of Delta.
“We believe that the outcomes of these initiatives will drive meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery, education, local industries, and job creation across Delta,” he said.
The governor also said that renewable energy evolution had already begun, adding that Delta would not be left behind.
According to him, Delta has begun, solar, wind, hydro, and biomass are no longer the underdog sources of energy as the International Energy Agency in its 2024 journal reports that renewable energy accounts for 90 per cent of global power capacity.
“On our part, Delta in its bid to key into Federal Government’s Energy Plan that ensures access to electricity, renewable energy means and private sector collaboration, has enacted the Delta State Energy Power Sector Law 2024.
“The policy seeks to address electricity sector challenges, improve electricity access, enhance investors’ confidence, and promote sustainable energy development,” he said.
Oborevwori said that Delta through strategic planning had established 8.5 megawatts independent power plant in Asaba designed as an embedded power system to feed government establishments.
According to him, plans are also underway to replicate same template in the state tertiary institutions to meet the energy needs of educational facilities.
He said that similarly, the state government had equally committed huge financial resources in rural electrification schemes intended to rehabilitate and reinforce existing dilapidated electricity networks.
“Extend electricity network to rural communities not yet covered or connected to the national grid.
“As encapsulated in our energy policy, Delta is ready to widen its operations in the electricity sector.
“Therefore, we aim for the establishment of solar power mini-grids, solar farm for rural communities, hybrid solar wind systems, or any other renewable energy hybrid system for housing and coastal estates.
“The goal is to accelerate energy assets for on-site and on-the-site communities through deployment of renewable energy solutions in Delta State.”
The governor, however, assured the deployment partners and prospective investors that the state was irrevocably committed to investments in the energy sector.
“We assure prospective investors of our determination to invest in the energy sector.
“We thank the World Bank, the REA, the renewable energy services companies, the energy ecosystem investors, and all other physical stakeholders that are here present for this collaborative opportunity.
“I assure you of our readiness to work closely to identify and develop viable projects that will yield sustainable and far-reaching impacts.
“Once again, I welcome you all and look forward to productive engagements, ‘’ he said.
The Managing Director of REA, Mr. Abba Aliyu, said that increased electrification of off- grid communities in Delta had the potential to attract $158 million investments.
Aliyu said that expanding powered off-grid sites would significantly boost the country’s GDP, with a projected annual increase of 2.9 billion dollars and create 31, 220 new jobs in Delta.
He said that REA had identified 471 potential mini-grid sites in Delta with Ndokwa East Local Government Area accounting for over 83 locations.
According to him, the mini-grids in Delta can potentially power more than 386, 046 people and 120, 000 buildings across the state.
He said’’179 communities in the state have more than 100 connections for private sector mini-grid developers adding these sites are attractive and have high impact investment.
“ On average, a village in Delta can have 255 connections. This density makes the state very attractive for mini-grid investments,” he said.
Mr Frank Nwaebo, Director Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy in Delta, while presenting renewable opportunities, said that the state had immense potential for renewable energy particularly solar power.
Nwaebo said that with an annual average solar radiance of 4.53 kilowatts per hour, making Delta the highest in the South-South region.
“ The growing demand for and rise of prices of fossil-related fuel stock such as natural gas, coal and diesel have resulted to urgent need for diversification if the state must achieve a cheaper and wider energy supply mix, ‘’ he said.
According to him, Delta government has inaugurated a Renewable Energy Policy Roadmap (2023-2028) to guide the state’s transition to renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has cautioned that ongoing policy instability is discouraging investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Mr. Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, raised the concern on Wednesday at the opening of the 4th Petroleum and Energy Advancement and Leadership Summit (PEALS 2025), held in Abuja.
Mr. Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN’s President
The summit’s theme is “Building a Resilient Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria.”
Osifo noted that frequent amendments to key laws, particularly the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), had created uncertainty for investors.
“Amendments are inevitable but must not be haphazard or intermittent.
“Businesses need stable policies for long-term planning, job protection, and sustainable production,” he said.
While expressing concern about erratic legislative changes, he commended recent executive orders signed by President Bola Tinubu aimed at boosting oil production, advancing gas development, and streamlining contracting processes.
He described them as “steps in the right direction.”
On worker safety, Osifo emphasised that “no job is worth a life,” stressing the need for strong safety procedures, continuous training, and transparent reporting across both offshore and onshore facilities.
He referenced last 2024 helicopter crash near Bonny that claimed the lives of three PENGASSAN members.
Turning to environmental concerns, he called for an immediate end to gas flaring, cleanup of polluted areas, and stricter accountability for oil operators.
He stressed that Nigeria must protect its land, rivers, and air.
“Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards are now critical for global competitiveness. Sustainability reporting must sit alongside financial statements,” Osifo added.
The PENGASSAN President said the summit would explore pathways to sustaining production recovery, curbing pipeline vandalism, resolving contract delays, developing marginal fields, and bridging funding gaps.
He also pledged the union’s continued commitment to members’ welfare, including leadership development, health programmes, wealth creation, and estate planning.
In his remarks, Group CEO of NNPC Ltd, Mr Bayo Ojulari, lauded PENGASSAN’s leadership and described PEALS as a strategic platform aligning labour, industry, and government to shape Nigeria’s energy future.
He reaffirmed NNPC’s focus on innovation, collaboration, and safety, noting that partnerships with unions and regulators were essential to building a globally competitive oil and gas sector.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, also addressed the summit, urging Nigeria to lead, not just follow, in the global shift toward cleaner energy and ethical industry practices.
“Resilience in oil and gas is not only about infrastructure or investment, but about people, labour policy, and empowering the workforce,” Dingyadi said.
He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to tripartite dialogue, decent work, skills development, and fair wages.
He further emphasised that health and safety must be “non-negotiable pillars” of a resilient energy system and urged companies to prioritise ESG compliance.
He called on unions to pursue constructive engagement and on government agencies to streamline regulations that balanced labour welfare with investor confidence.
Stakeholders on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, converged on Abuja to address Nigeria’s energy deficit and promote wider access to renewable energy.
They met at a High-Level Dissemination Session on the Enhanced Solar Energy Curriculum, with the theme: “Green Skills and Political Will in the Renewable Energy Curriculum Review Initiative in Nigeria”.
Participants at the High-Level Dissemination Session on the Enhanced Solar Energy Curriculum
The event was organised by INCLUDE, the Knowledge Platform on Inclusive Development Policies in Africa.
The platform supports research, shares knowledge with policymakers and practitioners, and organises international policy dialogues on inclusive development in Africa and the Netherlands.
Executive Director of INCLUDE, Dr Anika Altaf, thanked partners for their support, noting that the initiative would not only address energy challenges but also boost job creation.
Knowledge Manager at INCLUDE, Ms Victoria Manya, said the collaboration was driven by evidence-based research underscoring Africa’s need for a just energy transition.
She explained that such transition would expand energy access, create jobs, and strengthen workforce capacity through quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Manya gave a background of INCLUDE’s partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), stressing the role of soft infrastructure and strong institutional partnerships.
She also noted the involvement of the House Committee on Renewable Energy, chaired by Rep. Victor Ogene.
The collaboration, she added, involved research studies which supported the development of the curricula, now approved for adoption by TVET institutions nationwide.
Ogene commended INCLUDE, National Board for Technical Education(NBTE), sector experts and academics for their contributions.
She stated that the work had triggered a rethink of Nigeria’s skills architecture with socio-economic benefits, from promoting local content in the green economy to generating jobs.
He reiterated the House Committee’s commitment to laws and policies that support green jobs, workforce development and renewable energy skill acquisition.
NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, said Nigeria’s long-standing partnership with the Netherlands had driven transformation in the education sector.
He noted that the enhanced renewable energy curricula would position Nigeria’s workforce to participate in the fourth industrial revolution.
Bugaje urged government and stakeholders to support the implementation of the curricula to enable Nigeria’s smooth transition to clean energy.
Earlier, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Dr Abba Aliyu, said his agency, with government and development partners, had rolled out several programmes to address the country’s energy deficit.
He, however, stressed the need for a capable renewable energy workforce and stronger private sector investments to drive Nigeria’s energy transition agenda.
He commended NBTE for developing the enhanced renewable energy curricula.
A highlight of the session was the symbolic handover of the commemorative curriculum set by Bugaje, followed by the official flag-off of a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) exercise to be conducted by NBTE in partnership with INCLUDE.
The ToT is designed to equip more than 300 TVET trainers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones with the skills to implement the curricula.
According to organisers, the training sessions will hold in Lagos from Aug. 25 to 26 and in Kano from Sept. 2 to 3.
The people of Ogbogu Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local Government Area of Rivers State have raised their voices to clamour that oil multinational company, TotalEnergies, be kicked out of their community and out of Africa, due to what the community described as a continuous pattern of corporate neglect spanning decades.
In a townhall meeting organised by CODAF which held August 18, 2025, as part of the pan-African “Kick Total Out of Africa” week of action, the event served as a platform for the oil-impacted community to voice years of pent-up grievances against TotalEnergies’ operations under the OML 58 cluster.
Ogbogu Community members seek TotalEnergies departure
The meeting, which had community members, community leaders, women, youths and other stakeholders in attendance, accused TotalEnergies of employing divide-and-rule tactics within the community, making empty promises of development, and consistently failing to properly compensate for damages.
The gathering formed part of a broader continental movement, with similar actions taking place simultaneously in nine other African nations including Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa. The Africa Week of Action, spearheaded by 350Africa, represents a growing wave of resistance against fossil fuel corporations across the Africa.
A member of the community, Mr. Ajie Wisdom, stated that they are insisting that TotalEnergies leaves Nigeria, “as their operations have done more harm than good in the community”. He pointed out that TotalEnergies gas flaring operations have negatively impacted the health of residents in the community.
They called for a comprehensive environmental remediation to heal their poisoned land and waterways, reparations for years of lost livelihoods and health impacts, and stronger government oversight to prevent such corporate abuses in the future.
In a show of unity, the community clearly stated their demands:
“TotalEnergies must immediately cease operations and leave not just Ogbogu but Nigeria entirely. The era of unchecked corporate destruction in Nigeria is over, and the fight for environmental justice has only just begun.”
The community vowed to escalate their campaign through legal action, sustained protests, and appeals to global allies.
Mr. Endurance Oriakhogba, Project Officer, CODAF, announced plans to channel the community’s testimonies into formal petitions at the Africa Tribunal which will hold in South Africa on August 24, 2025.
“We will take Ogbogu’s cry for justice to every relevant forum until TotalEnergies is held accountable and our environment restored.”
The meeting served as both a sobering documentation of corporate abuse and an inspiring display of community resilience. With the eyes of a continent-wide movement now on Ogbogu, this small Niger Delta community has positioned itself at the forefront of Africa’s growing fight against environmental injustice in the fossil fuel industry.
For decades, TotalEnergies has operated across Africa, extracting resources, displacing communities, and polluting the environment under the banner of “development.” In reality, their operations have left a legacy of oil spills, toxic gas flaring, forced displacement, and broken promises, enriching foreign corporations while deepening poverty and environmental harm.
The Kick Total Out of Africa campaign is a continent-wide call to end this exploitation and demand justice, reparations, and a just energy transition led by communities.
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has condemned the Lagos State Government’s decision to privatise water supply through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme, calling the process anti-people and a betrayal of residents’ right to safe, affordable, and publicly managed water.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, CAPPA dismissed a two-day advocacy workshop convened last week by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) to promote the agenda as a “sham public relations exercise.”
Anti-water privatisation rally in Lagos. Photo credit: watergrabbing.net/
The event, themed “Attracting Investment for Improved Water Supply in Lagos State through Public-Private Partnership,” featured pledges by members of the State House of Assembly to fast-track legal amendments that would give investors broad protections. The state’s Office of Public-Private Partnerships described the plan as the “first concession” of water infrastructure, beginning with a pilot covering roughly 10 percent of assets.
CAPPA warned that such pronouncements reveal with chilling clarity what Lagosians can expect under privatisation. “Water will no longer be recognised as a human right but will instead be reduced to a financial asset securitised for the comfort of investors,” it said.
The organisation noted that Lagos’ fixation on water privatisation was not a fresh experiment but part of a long-running pattern. “For more than a decade, successive administrations have sought to hand over essential services to corporate profiteers, shifting the burden of cost and access onto already overburdened residents,” the statement added.
Responding to LWC Managing Director Mukhtaar Tijani’s statement that CAPPA declined to attend the workshop by “deliberate choice” over procedural concerns and differences in principle, the organisation described the remark as disingenuous and only a partial account of the truth.
“Yes, we refused to rubber-stamp a fait accompli and for good reasons which we clearly articulated in our response to the LWC,” CAPPA stated. “What was presented as a stakeholder meeting in fact took place only after the State had already issued Request for Proposals (RFP No. LSWC/BFOT/001/2025), inviting private investors to bid for the rehabilitation, upgrade, operation, and maintenance of mini and micro waterworks under a Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (BFOT) PPP model.
“Genuine stakeholder engagement must precede, not follow, major policy and investment commitments. By inviting bids first before democratic consultation, the Lagos State Government has shown contempt for accountability and treated residents as afterthoughts.
“We therefore reject both the process and its underlying premise. The privatisation of Lagos water is a step in the wrong direction, and we refuse to legitimise a predetermined outcome that undermines public interest,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA.
The statement contended that this style of governance was hardly the first instance of Lagos conducting such processes behind closed doors. On April 28, 2025, the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Belstar Capital, a US-based investment firm, and ENKA, a Turkish engineering company, to expand, rehabilitate, and construct water supply works across the state.
Yet, as with the current RFP, Lagosians were provided with no meaningful details on the scope of work, financing model, or contractual terms. No feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, or social safeguards have been shared to show how these projects will serve the public interest.
Similarly, in June 2024, the Lagos State Government announced the launch of the so-called Lagos Water Partnership (LWP), which CAPPA described as “another hollow platform presented as ‘consultative engagement.” The statement noted that by the time this LWP was unveiled, however, the government had already signed contracts with the Resilient Water Accelerator (RWA).
“Far from being a space for dialogue, the LWP was a tokenistic box-ticking exercise designed to launder decisions made elsewhere,” the statement read. CAPPA pointed out that following the Lagos International Water Conference (LIWAC) in June 2024, it had sounded the alarm about the state’s misplaced singular policy shift toward PPPs with no room for alternatives.
“Then, as now, we questioned why Lagos insists on pursuing a model that has failed everywhere it has been tried and the State’s blatant unwillingness to try other models that have proven successful,” CAPPA added.
The group also countered Tijani’s claim that PPP “is not privatisation,” an action he defined as full transfer of ownership and control. Privatisation, CAPPA explained, is not limited to outright sale but includes concessions, leases, management contracts, and BFOT-type arrangements—precisely what Lagos is pursuing.
Even when legal ownership remains with the state, operational control, tariffs, and workforce decisions are surrendered to private operators whose first obligation is to profit. The unfortunate mass sackings of over 800 LWC workers last year, the group argued, were a perfect example of the outcomes of this cut-throat water governance model.
Further speaking, CAPPA debunked Tijani’s frequent claims of PPP “success” in Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Morocco, Egypt, and Malawi as misleading, insisting that evidence points instead to widespread failure and public backlash. The group recounted how in Rwanda, the flagship Kigali Bulk Water Supply Project has been dogged by staggering losses, corruption, and service disruptions, with the Rwanda Water and Sanitation Corporation reportedly losing nearly half of its annual production while large sections of Kigali continue to endure rationing despite private involvement.
In South Africa, CAPPA noted, the Mbombela concession managed by Biwater has been dogged with tariff hikes and contractual disputes, while Morocco’s concessions in Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, and Tétouan have become infamous for billing controversies and governance crises. Uganda’s modest improvements in water access, the group stressed, stemmed not from privatisation but from robust public reforms, while in Malawi and Egypt, large-scale privatisation either collapsed outright or failed to materialise at all.
The failures, CAPPA argued, extend well beyond Africa. In the United Kingdom, where some partners backing Lagos’ PPP scheme are headquartered, water privatisation has been an outright disaster. Since 1989, privatised water companies in England have increased bills by more than 40 percent in real terms while siphoning off over £85 billion to shareholders, leaving behind underinvestment, sewage spills, and poor accountability.
“For us, the global lesson is clear as daylight. Cities such as Paris in France, Berlin in Germany, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Jakarta in Indonesia that once experimented with private concessions have all reversed course, reclaiming their water systems after years of higher costs, job losses, and degraded services. Lagos, instead of learning, is wilfully choosing to repeat the very mistakes others are working hard to undo,” CAPPA said.
As an alternative, the group urged Lagos to follow the worldwide trend of remunicipalisation. It charged the government to rebuild in-house capacity and foster participatory water sector reform processes that place workers, communities, and households at the centre.
CAPPA further demanded increased budgetary allocations to water infrastructure and the exploration of public-public partnerships that treat water as a shared good rather than a private commodity.
It asked the Lagos State Government to immediately halt the ongoing PPP scheme for mini and micro waterworks, withdraw the current RFP, fully disclose all agreements already signed with private investors, and initiate a truly open dialogue on sustainable, publicly controlled solutions to the state’s water crisis.
Until justice is first served to the media, affected communities and vulnerable people who suffer from a variety of environmental hazards – the majority of which are brought on by climate change – will keep demanding it
Every day, campaigners advocate for climate justice, making their voices heard in a bid to protect Mother Earth from the detrimental effects of human activity. Many view this struggle as the only sustainable path to ecological salvation and have dedicated their lives to the cause. Even if this seems encouraging, it is regrettable that many of these campaigners have acted ignorantly, failing to recognise that climate justice is simply media justice.
Participants at the Media for Climate Justice Workshop hosted by the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) in Abuja.
Breaking down the Concepts
Although in the public domain, it is commonly referred to as “media”, which merely signifies the means of carrying information in the form of opinion, advocacy, propaganda, advertising, artwork, entertainment, and other methods of expression to a very large audience. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that there are just “carriers” of information rather than the “message” itself.
Climate justice, on the other hand, is a type of environmental justice that focuses on the unequal effects of climate change on disadvantaged or otherwise vulnerable groups. So, whenever the word ‘climate justice’ is used, it is critical to recall this fundamental truth in order to bridge the gap between advocacy and practical climate action.
In light of this, the terms “communication” and “unequal” are pivotal in guiding this discussion. Now with this understanding, the following question arises: if communication is viewed as an art of shaping meanings, how then can it be deployed in a more intentional manner as an advocate to tackle the ongoing inequalities that hinder climate justice? Stakeholders need to ask themselves why it is that the climate is rapidly depleting and justice is very far from its reach in the face of available innovative communication and information technologies globally. These are some of the most pressing issues that demand attention.
Media for Climate Justice Workshop
In response to the above questions, the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI), a non-profit organisation that promotes social and environmental rights, on Thursday, August 14, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, convened a diverse group of youth leaders, media professionals, and environmental advocates as part of the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) project in the country to brainstorm on the answers to this worrisome but very critical matter.
Environmental journalists, science communicators, members of civil society networks, and young leaders were invited to share their experiences on a selection of topics, including how to create engaging climate stories, how to use digital tools to promote climate activism, the role of the media in climate advocacy, and the relationship between social justice, media, and climate change.
Lauritta Boniface, one of the panelists and co-founder of the Ecocykle Development Foundation (EDF), who spoke about young people’s perspectives on climate issues, described the engagement as a timely conversation that highlighted the importance of youth in media in shaping climate policy and action in Nigeria.
According to her, the event gave her the opportunity to respond to three pressing questions as a climate leader in Nigeria: what do young Nigerians see as the most pressing climate concerns confronting their communities today? The second question is: how do young people see the government’s commitment and capacity to address climate change? Finally, how do climate change consequences such as flooding, drought, and heatwaves affect Nigerian youth livelihoods, education, and health?
“I am grateful to ICCDI for creating this platform because of its thoughtful discussion on the climate realities facing young Nigerians,” she commented.
Zainab Bala, founder and executive director of The Scoop Storytelling Initiative, stressed the importance of communication in promoting environmental equity.
In her keynote speech, the climate diplomacy and policy expert used the success of her organisation’s campaign against the environmental destruction caused by the poorly explored Ororo Oil Well in the offshore Niger Delta to demonstrate how strategic or developmental communication can promote climate justice and strengthen local communities.
Perfect Johndick, another panelists at the event, believes that there can never be climate justice without first ensuring media justice.
The ecofeminist who works in the Niger Delta region, using graphics and multimedia to spotlight the ecological injustice that is ravaging the oil-rich region, went on to explain that at the heart of every climate struggle is a story of loss, resilience, and resistance. Unfortunately, she added, these experiences are sometimes buried in silence, misinformation, or narratives driven by people who are far distant from the front lines.
“I am deeply grateful to the organisers for creating this bold space, to my fellow speakers for the brilliance they shared, and to the participants whose energy proves that the future of climate advocacy is already here,” she addressed the people who had assembled to mark the event. “Let us not just tell stories. Let us tell stories that disrupt, stories that heal, and stories that move humanity a step closer to justice.”
Conclusion
From the notions of climate justice and the media to the opinions and voices of the stakeholders at the workshop, it is evident that communication plays an essential role in the struggle for climate justice. To further buttress its significance, the Bible teaches that God Almighty used the art of communication to create the universe.
In recognition of this harsh reality, the 13th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) was established by the UN with the express purpose of encouraging immediate action to address climate change and its effects on livelihoods and human existence in general. Section 26 of Part V of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act (CCA, 2021), which focuses on the Carbon Budget and National Climate Change Action Plan, also underscores the importance of climate education.
Olumide Idowu, co-founder and CEO of ICCDI, reflected on the outcome of the meeting and asserted that the message is clear: “Media is not just a messenger – it is a catalyst for climate justice in Nigeria and beyond.”
Truth be told, it is pathetic that with all the existing knowledge of media’s role in addressing this life-threatening crisis at hand, promoters and so many climate activists still deploy it as a damage control tool they use only when climate disasters strike. This is truly sad. The media must be understood from the perspective of communication, which is human-induced to the machines that carry such messages.
For the media to be used effectively, it must be viewed as a business and livelihood source, and its practitioners as people with goals and aspirations who have the desire to improve their societies.
Environmental communicators must be invited as key stakeholder and strategic partner in the climate discourse, given the required material support, as well as the freedom to do their jobs, not only as a tool for raising awareness, but also as a lifeline for accountability, a bridge for empathy, and a catalyst for systemic change.
