The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, convened disaster management stakeholders in Kaduna to review emergencies recorded in 2025 and strengthen preventive measures across the state.
The Head of Operations, NEMA Kaduna Office, Suleiman Muhammad, said the meeting was aimed at assessing progress made, identifying gaps and developing coordinated strategies to improve disaster response and public safety.
Muhammad said disaster management had shifted from reactive response to proactive risk reduction, with greater focus on early warning, preparedness and multi-agency coordination.
Head of Operations, NEMA Kaduna Office, Suleiman Muhammad
According to him, the engagement followed seasonal predictions issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), which highlighted potential flooding and other emergencies across Kaduna State.
He said flooding affected Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Zaria and Sanga Local Government Areas in 2025, but coordinated action by NEMA, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Red Cross, Fire Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) helped contain the damage.
Muhammad added that public sensitisation campaigns and practical simulations of tanker accidents had strengthened community awareness and emergency response capacity.
Also speaking, Akhaine Michael, Head of Disaster Management Unit, NSCDC Kaduna Command, said tanker accidents remained a major safety concern due to fuel spills on highways.
He said the corps supports NEMA through evacuation, crowd control and protection of lives and property during emergencies.
Rahama Suleiman, Head of Environment, Climate and Energy at the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Kaduna State Directorate, said the agency complements NEMA’s work through grassroots sensitisation and media engagement.
She said the outcomes of the engagement would be cascaded to field officers to strengthen awareness and preparedness in communities across the state.
Seven persons have been arraigned before the Special Offences (Mobile) Court sitting in Ikeja Magisterial District for allegedly assaulting enforcement operatives of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) during an environmental enforcement operation.
The defendants, Olamilekan Abdullahi (21), Akeem Olamilekan (24), Frank Tom (25), Sakiru Jamiu (20), Emmanuel Abiodun (41), Olarewanju Onyowale (35) and Taiwo Yusuf (30), were apprehended by LAWMA enforcement personnel on March 8, 2026, within the Moshalashi Jimoh axis in Lagos Island during routine monitoring against indiscriminate waste disposal.
The seven defendants
They were subsequently arraigned on March 10, 2026, before the Special Offences (Mobile) Court, Ikeja, in the matter of Attorney General of Lagos State v. Olamilekan Abdullahi & 6 Others.
The prosecution charged the defendants on a five-count charge bordering on conduct likely to cause breach of peace, indiscriminate dumping of refuse at an unapproved location, failure to patronise an approved Private Sector Participant (PSP) waste operator, obstruction of officers in the discharge of their duties, and assault.
All seven defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read before the court.
The court thereafter adjourned the case to April 24, 2026, for trial and admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two responsible sureties, one of whom must be a recognised community leader while the other must be a gainfully employed relative.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the defendants were remanded in a correctional facility.
LAWMA warns that obstruction or assault of enforcement personnel constitutes a serious offence under the laws of Lagos State, reiterating that acts capable of undermining environmental enforcement operations would be firmly addressed through appropriate legal channels.
Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will lead a multi-sector initiative to strengthen health financing and climate adaptation efforts across selected African countries.
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Abuja by the Spokesperson to Osinbajo, Mohammed Brimah.
Brimah said Osinbajo would lead the programme in five West African countries, namely Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo
He noted that the initiative was being undertaken by Future Perspectives, in partnership with its development and policy division, the Africa Centre for Future Perspectives, to generate evidence and guide strategies on health financing and climate resilience.
According to him, the initiative aimed to promote domestic health financing solutions to strengthen African health systems amid growing climate-related challenges.
He noted that governments in Sub-Saharan Africa faced increasing pressure to strengthen health infrastructure while managing rising debt and frequent climate-induced shocks.
He said the situation had worsened food insecurity, increased vector-borne diseases and placed additional pressure on already vulnerable health systems.
He also warned that the effects of climate change would vary across regions and populations, with poor and vulnerable communities in developing economies likely to suffer the most.
He said the consequences of climate change could also affect other sectors, including health, shelter and security.
The initiative, he said, underscored the need for coordinated multi-sector responses and innovative health financing strategies to build resilient systems across Africa.
Osinbajo is expected to convene an inaugural high-level consultation in Sierra Leone from March 11 to March 13 alongside the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio.
The meeting will bring together senior ministers and national leaders to deliberate on advancing climate-health financing efforts in the region.
Nigeria’s petroleum industry has long been the backbone of the country’s economy, yet its regulatory landscape has historically faced challenges ranging from inefficiencies and infrastructure gaps to market distortions. The establishment of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 marked a significant turning point in the country’s effort to modernise and strengthen governance across the oil and gas value chain.
By consolidating regulatory responsibilities within a single authority, the reform aims to create a more transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly environment that can unlock growth in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sectors.
Barrister Nwachukwu Okafor
A new era of regulation
The creation of the NMDPRA introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework for Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations. Prior to the reform, regulatory oversight was fragmented across multiple institutions, often resulting in overlapping functions and slow decision-making processes.
Today, the authority oversees a wide range of activities that are critical to the smooth functioning of the petroleum industry. These include licensing and permitting for refineries, depots, pipelines, retail outlets, and gas facilities, as well as the monitoring of fuel importation, storage, transportation, and distribution systems.
Beyond licensing, the agency also plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with operational, environmental, and safety standards. Through strict monitoring of petroleum product quality, the authority works to curb adulteration and protect consumers from substandard fuels.
Equally important is its role in market regulation. By promoting fair competition and monitoring supply and pricing mechanisms, the NMDPRA helps stabilise fuel availability across the country while supporting the broader goal of consumer protection.
Strategic importance for Nigeria’s economy
Effective regulation in the petroleum sector has far-reaching implications for the national economy. A strong and efficient regulatory system ensures a stable fuel supply, reduces market manipulation, and improves investor confidence in the energy sector.
For a country like Nigeria, where petroleum remains a major economic driver, strengthening regulatory institutions is vital for achieving long-term energy security and economic diversification.
The NMDPRA also plays a central role in promoting infrastructure development. By encouraging private investment in refining capacity, storage facilities, pipeline networks, and gas commercialisation projects, the authority helps address long-standing structural challenges in the sector.
Improved infrastructure not only enhances domestic energy supply but also reduces reliance on imported refined petroleum products, a key objective in Nigeria’s broader industrialisation strategy.
Opportunities within the sector
The evolution of the regulatory framework has opened up numerous professional and business opportunities within both the agency and the industries it oversees.
Within the NMDPRA itself, demand is growing for skilled professionals such as regulatory compliance officers, policy and economic analysts, legal advisors, technical inspectors, environmental and health safety experts, and data analysts capable of managing complex industry information systems.
Outside the agency, the regulated industry offers expanding prospects for petroleum marketing companies, modular refinery operators, gas processing firms, infrastructure developers, and energy consulting organisations. As the sector continues to evolve, technology-driven solutions and data analytics are becoming increasingly central to operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
Persistent challenges
Despite significant progress, Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sectors still face several challenges. Infrastructure deficits remain a major issue, particularly in pipeline networks, storage facilities, and refining capacity.
Fuel adulteration and illegal product diversion also continue to undermine market stability, while fluctuations in global energy markets contribute to pricing volatility. Additionally, enforcement capacity and the need for more advanced regulatory monitoring systems remain areas requiring sustained improvement.
The role of strategic partnerships
Strategic collaboration with industry experts and technology providers can significantly strengthen regulatory effectiveness. One such potential partner is Angel Consultants Inc., a firm specialising in advisory and technology solutions across the oil and gas value chain.
Through advanced Operational Technology (OT), Information Technology (IT), and Internet of Things (IoT) systems, the firm can help deploy real-time compliance monitoring platforms across refineries, pipelines, storage facilities, and distribution networks.
Such digital monitoring systems would enable regulators to detect operational irregularities, improve data-driven decision-making, and enhance transparency across the sector.
Cybersecurity is another critical area where collaboration can yield significant benefits. As petroleum infrastructure becomes increasingly digitised, protecting industrial networks and regulatory data from cyber threats is essential. Angel Consultants and her partners have developed and deployed systems for major companies against cybersecurity threats.
Building a more resilient petroleum industry
The establishment of the NMDPRA represents a bold step toward transforming Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory environment. However, the long-term success of these reforms will depend on sustained institutional strengthening, improved regulatory tools, and meaningful collaboration with industry stakeholders.
By investing in digital monitoring systems, enhancing transparency in licensing processes, expanding stakeholder engagement, and encouraging private sector participation in infrastructure development, Nigeria can build a more resilient and competitive midstream and downstream petroleum sector.
Ultimately, effective regulation will not only stabilise the energy market but also support broader economic growth, job creation, and national development.
By Barrister Nwachukwu Okafor, a lawyer and consultant. He can be reached at info@aconsultantsinc.com
The Lagos State House of Assembly has proposed the relocation of residents displaced by the demolition of waterfront settlements to a new settlement in Agbowa, Epe Local Government Area of the state.
Mr. Noheem Adams, the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules and Business, made this known while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Lagos.
The waterfront communities affected by the demolition are Makoko, Sogunro and Oko Agbon in Lagos State.
Makoko demolition
Many inhabitants were forced to relocate after the state government started demolishing what it called “illicit structures” in communities around the Third Mainland Bridge in December 2025.
The affected communities later protested the demolition and submitted a petition to the state assembly, prompting lawmakers to call for the suspension of the exercise while the matter was investigated.
Adams said the relocation was necessary because the demolition had resulted in the displacement of numerous residents, including the elderly, the sick, women, and children, as well as the destruction of homes and other properties.
He further observed that the affected waterfront communities largely depended on fishing as their primary source of livelihood and had historically resided on the water due to the nature of their occupation.
Adams said that, following the demolition, living conditions within Makoko and surrounding areas deteriorated significantly, leading to environmental and health hazards, as well as heightened safety and security concerns.
Adams, who is also the Majority Leader of the House, said: “There was a resolution by the House during plenary, following a petition addressed to the Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, by the residents of the communities.
“Based on our findings, we recommended that the governor should direct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to vet the enumeration report submitted by the Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon communities.
“The committee also recommended that the government relocate the remaining residents of Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon to a proposed low-cost housing estate.
“This estate is to be constructed in Agbowa area of Lagos State, Epe, where they can continue their fishing activities.
“In addition, we also advised that the government should involve the Oloto of the Otto Family in the construction of the Water City Project, recognising them as the original owners of the land.”
Adams explained that the committee arrived at its conclusions after engaging the petitioners in five separate meetings.
According to him, it also conducted an oversight visit with relevant government officials, agencies, and representatives of the affected communities.
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, said the Middle East conflict has imposed heavy economic costs on Europe, driving up energy prices and adding billions of euros to import bills.
“Since the beginning of the conflict, gas prices have risen by 50 per cent and oil prices by 27 per cent,” von der Leyen told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
She said 10 days of war had already cost European taxpayers an extra €3 billion ($3.48 billion) for fossil fuel imports.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Von der Leyen said the European Commission is assessing additional measures to lower energy bills, including a possible cap on gas prices.
She said the EU had diversified its fossil fuel supplies in recent years, but “this does not mean that we are immune to price shocks. Energy markets are global.”
The surge marks the second time in recent years that geopolitical conflict has triggered sharp rises in EU energy costs, following the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.
The commission is also pushing nuclear power to boost production and cut prices.
Von der Leyen announced on Tuesday that a €200 million ($231.75 million) EU guarantees to support private investment in innovative nuclear technologies.
EU Energy Commissioner, Dan Jorgensen, urged member states to cut energy taxes where possible, particularly on electricity, to lower consumer bills.
The commission also unveiled a Clean Energy Investment Strategy aimed at channeling private financing into power grids, clean energy technologies and energy efficiency.
Similarly, Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the economic consequences of the conflict in the Middle East for Europeans due to the EU’s high dependencies on fossil fuel imports.
“Since the beginning of the conflict, gas prices have risen by 50% and oil prices by 27%,” von der Leyen said on Wednesday in a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
“If you translate this into euros: 10 days of war have already cost European taxpayers an additional €3 billion ($3.5 billion) in fossil fuels imports,” she said. “That is the price of our dependence.”
Her remarks follow the presentation of new EU energy initiatives on Tuesday, including the planned roll-out of new, smaller nuclear reactors by the early 2030s to boost the bloc’s energy production.
Von der Leyen said that the commission was currently assessing additional measures to reduce energy bills, including capping gas prices.
After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 caused energy prices in the European Union to skyrocket, the fallout from the war in Iran is the second time in a few years that energy prices in the EU have soared due to geopolitical conflicts.
Von der Leyen stressed that recent efforts to diversify fossil fuel providers are limiting the fallout of the Middle East conflict.
“But this does not mean that we are immune to price shocks. Energy markets are global,” she said.
“No matter what we do in terms of measures, as long as we import a significant share of fossil fuels from unstable regions, we are vulnerable and we are dependent.”
More than 10 days into the latest escalation of conflict in the Middle East, health systems across the Region are coming under strain as injuries and displacement rise, attacks on health care continue, and public health risks increase.
National health authorities in Iran report more than 1,300 deaths and 9,000 injuries, and in Lebanon report at least 570 deaths and more than 1,400 injuries. In Israel, authorities report 15 deaths and 2,142 injuries.
At the same time, the conflict is affecting the very services meant to save lives. In Iran, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has verified 18 attacks on health care since February 28, 2026, resulting in eight deaths among health workers. Over the same period in Lebanon, 25 attacks on health care have resulted in 16 deaths and 29 injuries.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organisation (WHO)
These attacks not only cost lives but deprive communities of care when they need it most. Health workers, patients and health facilities must always be protected under international humanitarian law.
Beyond the immediate impact, the conflict is creating wider public health risks. Current estimates indicate more than 100,000 people in Iran have relocated to other areas of the country due to insecurity, and up to 700,000 people have been internally displaced in Lebanon, with many in crowded collective shelters under deteriorating public health conditions, with limited access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. These conditions increase the risk of respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, and other communicable illnesses, especially for the most vulnerable populations, such as women and children.
Environmental hazards are also a raising concern. In Iran, petroleum fires and smoke from damaged infrastructure exposed nearby communities to toxic pollutants that potentially cause breathing problems, eye and skin irritation, and contaminated water and food sources.
Access to health services is becoming increasingly constrained across several countries. In Lebanon, 49 primary health care centres and five hospitals have shut following evacuation orders issued by Israel’s military, reducing the availability of essential services as medical needs rise.
In the occupied Palestinian territory, increased movement restrictions and checkpoint closures are delaying ambulance and mobile clinics’ access across several governorates in the West Bank. In Gaza, medical evacuations remain suspended since February 28, while hospitals continue to operate under strain amid ongoing shortages of medicines, medical supplies and fuel, which is being rationed to prioritise essential health services such as emergency and trauma care, maternal and neonatal services, and management of communicable diseases.
Temporary airspace restrictions have disrupted the movement of medical supplies from WHO’s global logistics hub in Dubai. More than 50 emergency supply requests, intended to benefit over 1.5 million people across 25 countries, are affected, resulting in significant backlogs. Current priority shipments include supplies planned for Al Arish, Egypt, to support the Gaza response, as well as Lebanon and Afghanistan. The first shipment, containing cholera response supplies for Mozambique, is expected to depart from the hub in the coming week.
The escalation comes at a time when humanitarian needs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region were already among the highest in the world. Across the Region, 115 million people require humanitarian assistance – almost half of all people in need globally – while humanitarian health emergency appeals remain 70% underfunded.
Without protection for health care, sustained humanitarian access and stronger financial and operational support for the humanitarian health response, the strain on vulnerable populations and already fragile health systems will continue to grow.
WHO calls on all parties to protect civilians and health care, ensure unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access, and pursue de-escalation of the conflict so communities can begin to recover and move towards peace.
Healthy eating is often portrayed as a matter of willpower or personal choice. Yet, for millions of women and girls, the concept of choice is an illusion. Their health is significantly influenced by their food environment – the physical, economic, and social factors that determine what food is accessible, affordable, and promoted.
A poor food environment is not just about a lack of food. More often, it is about limited access to nutritious options. This can manifest as food deserts, which are urban or rural areas where fresh, affordable produce is miles away, leaving residents dependent on convenience stores saturated with high-calorie, ultra-processed foods.
Bukola Olukemi-Odele, food and nutrition scientist, and Programme Officer, Cardiovascular Health, at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
When food environments deteriorate in this way, the consequences are not shared equally. Women and girls bear a disproportionate share of the burden. Their bodies move through life stages that demand consistent and specific nutritional support, from adolescence to pregnancy and beyond. Yet the social realities surrounding food availability and preparation deepen their exposure to unhealthy diets.
As fresh and nutritious options become harder to access, supermarket shelves, kiosks, and convenience stores are increasingly dominated by products such as bread, noodles, frozen meals, sugary drinks, reconstituted meat products, fries, and snacks. These foods are deliberately formulated to trigger repeat consumption.
They typically contain high concentrations of salt, sugar, fats, and flavour enhancers that create what nutrition researchers describe as hyper-palatability, a sensory quality that strongly stimulates appetite and encourages repeated intake. The result is a steady shift away from whole foods toward diets that fill the stomach while offering little nutritional value.
The health effects are already visible.
Recent data from the Global Nutrition Report indicates that 15.7 percent of women in Nigeria are living with obesity. Research also shows that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) often contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) from packaging materials and industrial additives. For young girls, high consumption of UPFs has been linked to earlier onset of puberty, a development associated with lifelong health risks, including increased susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancers later in life.
The dangers intensify during pregnancy. Diets rich in UPFs can lead to gestational hypertension, diabetes, and even pre-eclampsia. Additionally, high consumption of UPFs is linked to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), largely due to insulin spikes caused by refined sugars. Industrial fats may also contribute to oxidative stress that can damage egg quality and complicate conception. In the end, what appears to be a simple matter of diet gradually becomes a question about reproductive health and the wellbeing of future generations.
Another dimension of the problem lies in how these products are marketed. Women remain widely responsible for feeding households and bearing much of unpaid care work, often while managing tight working schedules. Food companies exploit this reality by presenting UPFs as convenient and cheap solutions for the “busy woman.” Instant meals promise speed.
Packaged snacks promise convenience. Sugary drinks promise quick energy. In the absence of regulations such as mandatory front-of-package warning labels or restrictions on aggressive marketing, these products quietly become the default choice for consumers and many households.
The consequences extend far beyond individual health. Diet-related illnesses lead to lost workdays, rising medical expenses, and declining economic participation. Women already navigating income disparities often find themselves carrying the extra weight of chronic conditions, including autoimmune diseases, certain cancers, and inflammatory disorders linked to the consumption of UPFs.
Food justice is therefore a crucial feminist issue and sits firmly within the broader conversation about women’s wellbeing. When governments fail to regulate unhealthy food environments, the costs are borne most heavily by those already managing multiple burdens.
Effective action requires more than public health advice. Governments must adopt policies that reshape the market itself. Fiscal measures that discourage unhealthy products, clear front-of-pack warning labels that help consumers make informed choices, mandatory salt limits for processed and pre-packaged foods, and stronger controls on marketing aimed at women and children can help rebalance the forces at play, as well as counter market pressure.
True justice for women and girls means ensuring a world where the food on their plates is a source of strength rather than a slow, creeping threat to their future.
By Bukola Olukemi-Odele, food and nutrition scientist, and Programme Officer, Cardiovascular Health, at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) says it is seeking compliance with wetlands protection in oil plans, welcoming the designation of Ogoniland wetlands as a Ramsar Site of International Importance.
President of the MOSOP, Mr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, made the remark in a statement he issued to journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
Wai-Ogosu advised that any resumption of oil operations in the area should comply with international wetlands protection principles.
President of the MOSOP, Mr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu
He added that the recognition by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat placed Ogoniland in the global network of wetlands whose ecological integrity must be protected in line with internationally accepted conservation standards.
Wai-Ogosu described the designation as a landmark development that affirmed the ecological value of Ogoniland’s wetlands and the long-standing call by the Ogoni people for their protection.
‘’The designation represents a significant step toward restoring, protecting and sustainably managing the fragile ecosystems of the area after decades of environmental degradation,’’ he said.
He also commended the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) under the leadership of Nenibarini Zabbey for its role in achieving the international recognition.
Wai-Ogosu stressed that the new status came with clear obligations, noting that any proposed resumption of oil and gas operations in Ogoniland must strictly comply with environmental protection principles established under the Ramsar Convention.
He urged the Federal Government to ensure that no activity compromised the ecological character of the Ogoni wetlands.
He added that any plan to resume oil and gas production in the area must undergo rigorous environmental scrutiny consistent with the obligations of the convention.
Wai-Ogosu further stated that oil companies, contractors and institutions operating in Ogoniland should demonstrate full compliance with international wetland protection standards.
He said that activities capable of degrading the ecological integrity of the wetlands must not be permitted under any circumstances.
Wai-Ogosu mentioned that Ogoni communities had for decades endured the consequences of poorly regulated hydrocarbon exploitation.
He also added that the Ramsar designation had now established a new international environmental benchmark for government policy and corporate conduct in the region.
He emphasised that Ogoniland was no longer only an oil-bearing territory but an internationally recognised ecological asset whose protection was tied to global environmental commitments.
Wai-Ogosu said that MOSOP would remain vigilant and engage both national and international mechanisms to ensure that the obligations arising from the Ramsar designation were respected and enforced.
G7 countries were on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, urged to enact a windfall tax or tax on the excess profits of oil and gas companies benefiting from price surges following the Iran war.
350.org made the demand after G7 finance ministers said it was studying “necessary measures” to address the war’s economic impacts, including the release of emergency oil reserves.
In 2022, the UK government imposed a 25% levy on carbon majors to help ease the prices of oil and gas following a surge driven by the Ukraine war, raising £3.6 billion in two years.
G7 leaders at the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada
Such revenues from a windfall tax can be used as an immediate buffer to protect families from price surges, as well as fund long-term, homegrown renewable energy solutions.
Fanny Petitbon, 350.org France Country Manager, said: “Releasing emergency oil reserves is just a band-aid on a gaping wound. If G7 countries are serious about stabilizing the market, they need to stop protecting profits and start taxing companies which fuel the climate crisis. Working people shouldn’t be paying the price while oil majors treat the war in the Middle East like a winning lottery ticket. We need the G7 to step up and establish a windfall tax now to put those profits back into the pockets of the people.
“The French government, as president of the G7, must also confront the elephant in the room, the urgent phase-out of fossil fuels. It can no longer look away from the reality which is that we cannot stay addicted to oil and gas.”
Clémence Dubois, 350.org Global Campaigns Manager, said: “Wars expose a deep flaw in our energy system: when prices spike, fossil fuel companies stand ready to cash in while households and businesses struggle. That’s not just market volatility, it’s the result of governments allowing fossil fuel companies to keep the power to shape the energy system and pass the costs onto everyone else.
“G7 governments must stop reinforcing this model with fossil fuel tax cuts that only inflate corporate earnings. Cutting fossil fuel taxes during a crisis is not a relief for families, it’s a subsidy for companies that are already enjoying windfall profits.
“The right response is a strong windfall tax, which should be redirected to support households and accelerate the transition to clean energy that reduces our dependence on the very fuels driving both climate disruption and global instability.”
Masayoshi Iyoda, 350.org Japan Campaigner, said: “Most of Japan’s oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making Japan acutely exposed to fossil fuel price shocks. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has moved to calm fears over rising energy and food prices, but reassurances and stop-gap measures like releasing oil reserves are not enough. Fossil fuel companies are cashing in on this crisis. A windfall tax on polluting industries would make them pay by taking responsibility, not ordinary families already stretched by years of stagnant wages and price surges due to climate impacts.
“When PM Takaichi meets US President Trump next week, we urge her to reconsider Japan’s alignment with the Trump administration’s fossil fuel agenda. The attack on Iran has shown, once again, how that agenda means prosperity for oil and gas corporations, and higher bills for everyone else. Accelerating a just transition to renewable energy and phasing out fossil fuels is Japan’s best option to secure affordable and sustainable energy based on democracy and peace.”
