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)
Norway has officially announced its national climate target or Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which is the official climate action roadmap the country will take between now and 2035.
Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway
Norway is one of the top fossil fuel expansion countries in the world and environmental activist group, 350.org, is outraged by the lack of emission reduction ambition and clear phase-out of oil and gas extraction projects.
“Norway’s national climate target falls woefully short of what’s needed to keep the 1.5°C global temperature rise targets alive. Norway has shown total reluctance to commit to a clear phase out of oil and gas projects and is unequivocally burying its head in the sand – ignoring science and perpetuating the climate crisis. As a wealthy nation, choosing to opt for insufficient climate ambition is an injustice to the most vulnerable people and the planet,” saidAndreas Sieber, Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns, 350.org
350.org’s analysis of Norway’s NDC
The headline target of a 70-75% emissions reduction by 2035 falls short of Norway’s fair share (at least 80% by 2035) and hinges on the use of international flexibility mechanisms, rather than a fully domestic approach.
Norway has once again opted not to set a climate neutrality target for 2050, instead aiming for a 90-95% emissions reduction by mid-century.
Despite advice from the climate committee, Norway is resisting calls for a clear plan to phase out oil and gas production, signaling an intention to extend fossil fuel extraction contrary to scientific recommendations for a hard end date in line with 1.5°C warming. In the medium term this is short sighted as global oil demand is peaking, and Norway needs a more solid approach for their likely to be stranded oil assets.
While Norway indicates that renewable energy will expand – albeit with a controversial emphasis on bioenergy – it fails to commit to a specific renewable energy target for 2035. Norway fails to set sectoral energy targets unlike most other countries which have already submitted their NDC ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
Suriname on Monday, June 30, 2025, became the first country in the Amazon region to receive malaria-free certification from the World Health Organisation (WHO). This historic milestone follows nearly 70 years of commitment by the government and people of Suriname to eliminate the disease across its vast rainforests and diverse communities.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organisation (WHO)
“WHO congratulates Suriname on this remarkable achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This certification is a powerful affirmation of the principle that everyone – regardless of nationality, background, or migration status – deserves universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment. Suriname’s steadfast commitment to health equity serves as an inspiration to all countries striving for a malaria-free future.”
With Monday’s announcement, a total of 46 countries and 1 territory have been certified as malaria-free by WHO, including 12 countries in the Region of the Americas.
“Suriname did what was needed to eliminate malaria—detecting and treating every case quickly, investigating to prevent spread, and engaging communities,” said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), WHO’s regional office for the Americas. “This certification reflects years of sustained effort, especially reaching remote areas. It means future generations can grow up free from this potentially deadly disease.”
Certification of malaria elimination is granted by WHO when a country has proven, beyond reasonable doubt, that the chain of indigenous transmission has been interrupted nationwide for at least the previous three consecutive years.
Dr Amar Ramadhin, Minister of Health of Suriname, stated: “Being malaria-free means that our population is no longer at risk from malaria. Furthermore, eliminating malaria will have positive effects on our healthcare sector, boost the economy, and enhance tourism.
“At the same time, we recognize that maintaining this status requires ongoing vigilance. We must continue to take the necessary measures to prevent the reintroduction of malaria. We are proud that our communities are now protected, and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to our beautiful Suriname – while remaining fully committed to safeguarding these hard-won gains.”
Suriname’s road to elimination
Suriname’s malaria control efforts began in 1950s in the country’s densely-populated coastal areas, relying heavily on indoor spraying with the pesticide DDT and antimalarial treatment. By the 1960s, the coastal areas had become malaria-free and attention turned towards the country’s forested interior, home to diverse indigenous and tribal communities.
Although indoor spraying was successful in coastal areas, its impact was limited in the country’s interior due to the prevalence of traditional open-style homes that offer minimal protection against mosquitoes. In 1974 malaria control in the interior was decentralised to Medische Zending, Suriname’s primary health care service, which recruited and trained healthcare workers from the local communities to provide early diagnosis and treatment.
The surge in mining activities, particularly gold mining which often involves travel between malaria-endemic areas, led to increases in malaria, reaching a peak of more than 15,000 cases in 2001, the highest transmission rates of malaria in the Americas.
Since 2005, with support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the capacity to provide diagnosis was greatly expanded with both improvements in microscopy and the use of rapid diagnostic tests, particularly among mobile groups. Artemisinin-based treatments with primaquine were introduced in Suriname and neighboring countries through PAHO-led studies under the Amazon Malaria Initiative (AMI-RAVREDA), supported by the United States. Prevention among high-risk groups was also strengthened through the distribution of insecticide-treated nets funded by the Global Fund.
By 2006, malaria had drastically decreased among the indigenous populations, prompting Suriname to shift its focus to high-risk mobile populations in remote mining areas. To reach these groups – many of whom were migrants from neighboring endemic countries – the country established a network of Malaria Service Deliverers, recruited directly from the mining communities. These trained and supervised community workers provide free malaria diagnosis, treatment, and prevention services, playing a vital role in closing access gaps in hard-to-reach regions.
Through ensuring universal access to diagnosis and treatment regardless of legal status, deploying an extensive network of community health workers, and implementing nationwide malaria screening, including at border crossings, Suriname successfully eliminated malaria. The last locally transmitted case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria was recorded in 2018, followed by the final Plasmodium vivax case in 2021.
Sustained leadership commitment and funding
The government of Suriname has shown strong commitment to malaria elimination, including through the National Malaria Elimination Taskforce, Malaria Program, Malaria Elimination Fund, and cross-border collaboration with Brazil, Guyana and French Guiana. For many years PAHO/WHO, with the support of the U.S. Government, has provided technical cooperation throughout Suriname’s anti-malaria campaign. Since 2016 Suriname also participated in the “Elimination 2025” initiative – a group of countries identified by WHO as having the potential to eliminate malaria by 2025.
This success in Suriname is a demonstration that malaria elimination is possible in challenging contexts in the Amazon basin and in tropical continental countries. The country’s malaria-free certification plays a critical role in advancing PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative which aims to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases, including malaria, in countries of the Americas by 2030.
As the Lagos State Government prepares to implement its ban on Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, environmental advocates have called for a more robust, inclusive, and transparent approach to the policy to avoid failure.
Single-use plastics
They also cautioned that failure to address key gaps could undermine the effectiveness of the ban.
They made the disclosure in separate interviews on Monday, June 30, in Lagos.
Similarly, some traders in Lagos are lamenting the enforcement of the Lagos State Government ban on single use plastic on July 1. The ban prohibits the sale, and use of disposable plastic bags, including the widely used black nylon bags.
Dr Leslie Adogame, the Executive Director of Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development, emphasised that the Lagos State Government must demonstrate full commitment to eradicating SUPs from the streets and not mere lip service to the issue.
“If Lagos truly wants to retain its status as the Centre of Excellence and demonstrate real commitment to waste management, then SUPs must be taken completely off the streets.
“Exempting PET bottles and sachet water—some of the most visible pollutants—is unacceptable. The government should give clear timelines for a full ban on these as well. Anything short of this undermines the policy,” Adogame said.
He said that without a strong Extended Producer Responsibility framework expanding the list of banned items would have limited effect.
He added that the legacy plastic waste already present in the environment may take up to five years to clean.
Also, the Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative, Mr Philip Jakpor, criticised the government’s exemption of PET bottles and some sachet water.
Jakpor noted that these are among the most common pollutants in Lagos.
“Leaving these out of the ban reflects a disconnect from the actual pollution reality on the ground.
“However, we must commend Lagos for being the first state in Nigeria to make such a move. While some SMEs may be affected, this is also an opportunity for innovation and investment in eco-friendly alternatives like paper bags,” Jakpor said.
He also warned of the broader environmental consequences, citing scientific evidence of plastics entering the food chain through aquatic life, thus threatening both food security and public health.
Mr. Michael Simire, the Executive Director of EnviroNews Advocacy & Campaigns for Sustainability, noted that Lagos generates between 13,000 and 15,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, much of it made up of SUPs.
“SUPs clog waterways, release microplastics into the environment, and contribute to health problems. This ban is environmentally beneficial and timely.
“However, its success depends on effective implementation and consideration of the socio-economic realities, especially for small-scale vendors who rely on SUPs,” Simire said.
Simire urged the government to collaborate with local businesses, communities, and environmental groups to ensure smooth implementation and reduce the risk of increased poverty among vulnerable groups.
Meanwhile, Mrs Funmilayo Balogun, a nylon producer in Lagos, expressed concern that the ban, without supportive measures, could lead to higher unemployment.
“The ban will hurt small businesses and increase unemployment, especially among waste pickers who rely on SUPs for their livelihood.
“The government should empower waste pickers with appropriate equipment and technology to handle plastic waste more effectively,” Balogun said.
The policy has also drawn criticism from market traders and plastic manufacturers, who claim that the ban was rushed without providing accessible or affordable alternatives.
Mr. Tunde Adebayo, a manager at a plastic bag production facility at Costain area of the state, said the ban would most likely lead to the loss of jobs in the sector.
“This is our main business. If they stop plastic, what happens to our jobs? We employ over 40 staff. We’ve received no support or notice of alternatives from the government,” Adebayo said.
At Oyingbo market, where nylon bags are used daily to package perishable produce, like pepper, tomato, meat and vegetables, some traders say they were unaware of the ban or when it would take effect.
Mrs. Bimbo Adetola a trader for over 10 years at Oyingbo Market, said she was unaware of the ban or its enforcement in July.
“I do not even know what I will use to wrap tomatoes or meat, what do they expect us to use when they are banning plastics without an alternative in place.”
“The government should bring another option first before they ban nylon bags,” Adetola said.
Also, another trader simply known as Madam Ifeoma, said the traders would work their way around, in navigating what alternatives to use.
“If the ban the plastic nylons is enforced, we will try to manage what we have. We cannot give the goods to our customers in their bare hands, it cannot work that way,” she said.
Also, consumers and shoppers noted that they cannot afford alternatives to single use plastic yet.
As they claim biodegradable nylon bags are three times more expensive than regular nylon bags and many consumers cannot afford them.
A consumer known as Mr. Abdul Musa said even paper bags as alternatives are not strong enough to accommodate most perishable produce.
“Even with the availability of paper bags, what do you expect the shoppers to do when it rains?
“If the government does not provide workable solutions and alternatives following the plastic ban, people will find a way to still engage in single use plastic in secret,” Musa said.
As Lagos prepares to enforce its SUPs ban, these voices are urging the government to go beyond symbolism and ensure a practical, fair, and sustainable solution that benefits both people and the planet.
By Fabian Ekeruche, Kalu Alexander and Mercy Omoike
Stakeholders at the Inception and Discovery Meeting for Climate Equity Project in Nigeria have underscored the amplification of personal experiences of various communities on the effects of climate change.
Executive Director of YARN, Opeyemi Elujulo
The meeting was organised in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday, June 30, 2025, by the Youth Agroecological for Restoration Network (YARN) in collaboration with Ushahidi and NETHOPE.
The event is entitled “Amplifying Community Voices of Climate Change in Nigeria”.
The Executive Director of YARN, Opeyemi Elujulo, stated that the event aimed to ensure that communities across Nigeria were represented in the data on climate change issues.
“This is to amplify the voices of those mostly affected by climate change.
“We have various stakeholders come together to co-create what climate solutions should look like and chart a way to ensure that their voices are well represented,” Elujulo said.
A representative of Ushahidi, Kenya, Joseph Kirai, said the stakeholders’ engagement was insightful as people expressed how climate change was affecting them.
“One of the issues that we’ve seen is that we have always been having satellite data collected, but we haven’t been having lived experience on climate change,” he said.
Kirai stated that the project would collate data of 5,000 community members in three states: Oyo, Osun and Ondo.
According to him, the data will be used to make informed decisions on climate change issues.
From NETHOPE, Aminat Adebayo stated that the project would add to the number of most vulnerable voices, such that tool kits could be developed for community adaptation to climate change.
She said that the data would be analysed for climate action plans that communities could act upon to improve solutions and develop resilience.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said that engagements were ongoing to sensitise farmers on how to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Olaleye, represented by Mrs Abimbola Agbaje of the Data Collection Department, said the government facilitated a training by NiMET in February on how farmers could adapt to climate change challenges.
According to the commissioner, there is a prediction of a 40-day drought in Oyo State from mid-July to August.
He added that farmers were advised to plant in phases to reduce losses due to climate change.
He, however, urged farmers to insure their business ventures with the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) so that they could bounce back after suffering any loss.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ṣeun Ashamu, said the ministry would continue to work with other stakeholders to reduce the effects of climate change.
Represented by Mrs Ajibade Adepoju of the Pollution Department, the commissioner stated that the ministry had been engaging in various activities to create awareness and solutions to climate change issues.
