For the first time ever, conservationists have a unified global checklist of the species of bird found on Earth, thanks to the publication of AviList.
Bird species
AviList – a brand-new, unified global checklist of bird species and taxonomy – was published on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Containing 11,131 species, 19,879 subspecies, 2,376 genera, 252 families and 46 orders, this new checklist brings together global thinking on what constitutes a species and shakes up our understanding of the avian world.
Dr Stuart Butchart, Chief Scientist at BirdLife International, said: “The development and adoption of a single unified global taxonomic list for birds will benefit conservation, removing the current confusion and uncertainty resulting from the existence of multiple lists. It will make it easier for birders, scientists, policymakers and conservationists to share information, use and link different online platforms, and share a common understanding of avian distribution, ecology and conservation priorities.”
Until now, ornithologists and birders have used a selection of global checklists, each with its own reasoning on what constitutes a specific species of bird. AviList’s unified view has taken four years of work by the Working Group on Avian Checklists, containing representatives from BirdLife International, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the American Ornithologists Society, the International Ornithologists’ Union, and Avibase. The new checklist will replace the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) and Clements lists and will be updated annually.
Dr Paul Donald, BirdLife’s representative on AviList, said: “With hundreds of differences between the various checklists to resolve, each of them requiring the team to pull together and consider all the evidence, the process took almost four years. The process allowed us to develop a whole new perspective on the world’s birds, and AviList should become the standard reference on global avian diversity for decades to come.”
With our conservation work around the globe protecting the most vulnerable species and keeping common birds common, BirdLife International will transition from our current list to AviList over the next few years. This ensures we continue helping populations thrive and the IUCN Red List up-to-speed with the very latest status updates. Once fully aligned, the benefits for sustainable taxonomic work, global authority and clarity on conservation priorities are immense – and BirdLife’s DataZone, the IUCN Red List, Cornell Lab’s eBird and Birds of the World will all be directly compatible.
Marshall Iliff, an AviList team member and eBird project leader at the Cornell Lab, said: “In trying to protect birds at a global scale, it is important to ensure that everyone is talking the same language and the data match.”
The launch of AviList has been described as a huge milestone in the world of avian science. The new checklist is published freely at https://www.avilist.org/. and can be downloaded in full for free. It can be downloaded in full or as a “short version” containing just the most essential fields, in both .xlsx and .csv. formats.
Twelve civil society organisations from across the African continent as well as Europe and Russia have released a disturbing report on the growing number of African nations considering nuclear energy as part of their overall energy mix.
Africa sees nuclear power as answer to its continent-wide electrification challenges
The report, titled“The alarming rise of false climate solutions in Africa – the nuclear energy misadventure”,was released ahead of the Bonn Climate Conference SB62 which commences on June 16 in Germany.
It details the nuclear power plans of Angola, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda, all countries that have made announcements concerning new nuclear power plants. South Africa has the continent’s only operating nuclear power plant, commissioned in 1984 during the apartheid government.
“The alarming rise of false climate solutions in Africa ― the nuclear energy misadventure” was prepared by campaigners as a collective advocacy report with a number of recommendations that reflect the breadth of their shared concerns about the development of nuclear energy across the continent. The groups are unanimous in their demand for a nuclear free Africa, safe from the dangers of nuclear energy and instead building a future powered by clean, affordable solutions.
“The demand for a Just Transition to a post-carbon economy means it must be green, sustainable and socially inclusive. This comprehensive report lays out the case for why the nuclear energy option is not compatible with these demands. It shows how the nuclear energy lobby undermines and obstructs the need for net zero to be achieved by 100% clean sustainable renewable energy,” writes Makoma Lekalakala, Goldman Prize recipient for Africa 2018, in her foreword.
“The alarming rise of false climate solutions in Africa: the nuclear energy misadventure”gives details on the extent of plans and announcements to roll out nuclear power plants across the African continent. It explores the numerous reasons why this is not the answer to the continent’s effort to reduce emissions – the urgency of the climate crisis means nuclear energy is too slow to deliver; it is harmful to human health and the environment; and unlike renewables not suited to solving the present problems of energy poverty.
The report makes the case that the continent is becoming both a potential testing ground and, in particular, a battleground for conflicting geopolitical influences that are also playing out in the field of nuclear technology exports, or rather the prospect of such exports. At the same time, the nuclear energy lobby’s extensive, well-funded and global PR effort, including at UNFCCC climate meetings is also documented in the report.
Instead, the report authors call for an end to plans and announcements to spend billions on building new nuclear power plants. Three quarters of Africa’s climate finance needs are not met and more than half of existing climate finance is in debt instruments. The focus on nuclear energy will severely crowd out already precious and inadequate climate finance for climate mitigation, adaption and renewable energy generation projects.
The climate emergency has thrown a lifeline to the nuclear power industry. This report makes clear that Africa’s energy needs do not require nuclear power. The way forward clearly lies in funding clean, safe renewable energy sources, of which the continent has an abundance.
Philip Jakpor, Executive Director Renevyln Development Initiative (RDI), said: “Nuclear plans are a ‘misadventure’. Nigeria is not ready to host nuclear plants because we don’t have the capacity to manage it. We’ve had longstanding difficulties with oil and gas infrastructure where pipelines are frequently the target of sabotage, theft or terrorism, causing enormous environmental damage in the Niger Delta.
“A nuclear power station would inevitably become a ‘target of terrorists’. Security at a nuclear power station would need to be akin to a “military base” probably protected by another country such as Russia.”
Alberta Kpeleku, Executive Director 360 Human Rights, said: “From environmental disasters to health risks and economic concerns, it’s time for Ghana to reject nuclear power plants. There are far too many risks. Nuclear accidents, radioactive waste, health risks, security threats, nuclear proliferation, terrorism.
“The devastating effects of nuclear accidents do not affect the present generation alone but also generations yet unborn. Alternatives and solutions for nuclear energy include renewable energy sources—solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal—which should be prioritised.“
Phyllis Omido, Kenya, Laureate of the Alternative Nobel Prize, Goldman Prize recipient for Africa 2015, Centre for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action, said: “As part of Kenya’s anti-nuclear movement, we stand in solidarity with the newly born Ghana AntiNuclear Movement led by 360 and SYND. We believe in African solutions to African problems. Nuclear energy translates to energy slavery for African people for generations to come. Renewable energy is freedom for our people and freedom for our planet.”
Sam Mucunguzi, Executive Director Uganda Environment Action Now, said: “Uganda’s energy needs are certainly valid, with half the population not accessing power, the inaccessibility is not caused by lack of generated power as the country has excess power of more than 1000 MW. The government has set a goal of achieving an electricity access rate of more than 99% by 2030 and aims to attain it through nuclear power generation by 2031.
“This is a very ambitious goal and not attainable with a timeframe set for generating nuclear energy estimated to be more than ten years. Besides, the finances for only 1000MW is a quarter of Uganda’s national budget. The highly indebted Uganda must review its plans for Nuclear energy before mortgaging the country to western world and Chinese money financiers. Uganda is currently mining oil and gas amidst many environmental, social and economic disruptions, adding on Nuclear development will be disastrous. We can attain our energy needs via cleaner options like solar, wind and Hydro.”
Francesca de Gasparis, Executive Director, The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute, said: “Nuclear energy is not needed or wanted as an energy source in Africa. When we compare nuclear power to other energy choices on the table in the 21st century, in terms of all meaningful factors – cost, safety, construction time, and waste – there is no rationale for nuclear power.”
Vladimir Slivyak, Co-Chair, Russian Environmental Group Ecodefense, Laureate of the Alternative Nobel Prize, said: “Nuclear power is expensive, slow, and dangerous. It is vulnerable to both climate change and war. The growing effects of climate change, such as floods, hurricanes, droughts, heatwaves, or storms, pose great risks to nuclear safety. Wars increase the risk of military attacks, as seen at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in Ukraine.
“Nuclear power in today’s unstable world creates additional risks of radiation disasters. It also creates the risk of nuclear proliferation, as every civilian nuclear plant produces materials that can be used to make a nuclear explosive device or dirty bomb. Renewable energy is safe and cheap and must be the first choice in Africa, where its potential is enormous.”
The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and the International Ocean Institute (IOI)-Nigeria have urged global cooperation and local innovation to protect marine ecosystem and promote sustainable ocean governance.
Executive Director, Nigeria Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Prof. Abiodun Sule
They said this at the event to mark the World Ocean Day with the theme: “Wonders: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” at NIOMR headquarters on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Nigeria Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Prof. Abiodun Sule, stressed the need for global cooperation for sustainable ocean.
Represented by the Director of Research, Dr Obatola Parcey, Sule emphasised the essential role of the ocean in supporting life on earth.
According to him, the earth depends completely on the ocean for oxygen production and climate regulation to food security, economic livelihoods, and cultural identity.
“The World Ocean Day is more than a symbolic observance. It is a day for reflection, recommitment, and renewed action to protect the very foundation of our planet’s life systems.
“Nigeria’s dependence on marine and coastal ecosystems for fisheries, transport, tourism, and local livelihoods makes it mandatory for marine conservation to remain a national priority,” he said.
Sule praised the decade-long partnership between NIOMR and the IOI-Nigeria Centre.
He said their collaborative efforts had enhanced ocean literacy, fostered stakeholder engagement, and promoted research-based policy dialogue in Nigeria.
“Together, we have bridged science, policy, and community action in pursuit of sustainable ocean governance,” he added.
The Director, International Ocean Institute, Mr. Akanbi Williams, said the 2025 World Ocean Day celebration highlights the ocean’s vital role and what it has given us as a nation and community.
“We will explore the importance of international cooperation in protecting marine biodiversity, discuss innovative solutions to plastic pollution, and showcase the rich cultural heritage of our coastal communities.
“Let’s work together to safeguard the ocean’s future,” he said.
He called for a stronger international cooperation to protect marine biodiversity and promote sustainable ocean governance.
Also speaking, an environmental expert, Prof. Babajide Alo, in a keynote lecture titled: “Wonders Without Borders: Sustaining the Ocean Through Global Agreements,” examined the role of international treaties, particularly the new Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction.
“This landmark treaty, negotiated under the United Nations, represents a significant step forward in the protection of marine biodiversity in areas beyond any single country’s territorial waters and regions that make up nearly half the planet’s surface.
“The agreement aims to close existing legal gaps by establishing mechanisms for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity.
“It includes the regulation of activities such as marine genetic resource exploitation, environmental impact assessments, and the establishment of marine protected areas on the high seas.
“By fostering greater international cooperation, transparency, and equitable benefit-sharing, the agreement is seen as a vital tool in advancing ocean sustainability and ensuring that the global commons are safeguarded for future generations,” he said
Aloa noted that the ocean smelled fresher when he was a child.
“The fish were plenty, and you didn’t need to sail far to see coral gardens dancing under the sun. But times change and not always for the better.
“These days, the sea is tired. We’ve taken too much and given too little. Folks forgot the ocean is not just a big blue pantry. It’s a living, breathing world of its own.
“That’s why it’s so important we treat it right. We have to manage what we take, protect the life beneath the waves, and fish like we mean to come back tomorrow and not strip it bare like there’s no future,” he said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reaffirmed its concern over the imminent risk of flooding in Rivers and 11 other states across Nigeria.
NEMA multi stakeholder engagement on Wednesday in Port-Harcourt
Mrs. Zubaida Umar, Director General of NEMA, raised the alarm during the launching of a multi-stakeholder engagement held on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Port Harcourt.
She issued the warming based on the 2025 forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMeT), which predicted severe flooding in four local government areas of Rivers, including Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Andoni, and Opobo/Nkoro.
Umar, represented by Dr Godwin Tepiko, Director, NEMA South-South Zonal Directorate, explained that the forecast prompted the agency to launch its National Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC), aimed at mitigating the expected impact.
She emphasised that engaging with stakeholders was essential for ensuring timely and effective action to safeguard lives and livelihoods throughout the rainy season.
“The devastating impacts of annual floods in Nigeria necessitate collaboration among all tiers of government, development partners, the private sector, media and citizens to manage disaster risks and build national resilience.
“Lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure worth billions of naira have been lost to floods and related hazards in recent years.
“Nigerians have suffered injuries and lost their lives’ savings due to unmitigated flooding and associated hazards year after year,” she stated.
According to Umar, early warning systems have enabled NEMA to identify the disaster risk management implications of the forecast and develop mitigation strategies for dissemination vulnerable communities.
He noted that vulnerability maps had been produced to guide both federal, states and local authorities in implementing effective risk reduction measures.
Key disaster risk implications outlined include delayed onset of rains, earlier than normal cessation of rainfall, above-normal precipitation, and prolonged dry spells, among others.
“These factors are expected to significantly affect socio-economic sectors, including disaster management, health, agriculture, transportation, water supply, education, security, and the environment.
“To address these challenges, NEMA has implemented several proactive measures, including capacity building for local emergency responders, simulation exercise adherence to rainfall predictions for planting, irrigation, livestock vaccination, and pre-positioning of emergency supplies.
“In addition, we are also campaigning for the desilting of drainages, integrity tests on critical infrastructure, evacuation planning, and enhancing safety and security surveillance in high-risk communities,” Umar added.
She announced the deployment of field officers, in collaboration with state and local emergency agencies and volunteers, to relay early warning messages directly to flood-prone communities.
Umar appealed to residents to begin preparations in anticipation of the looming flood threat to prevent a recurrence of past unpreparedness.
She also called on traditional leaders, religious organisations, women and youth groups, and the media to support national efforts aimed at mitigating the expected disaster.
Prof. Daniel Mbee, Director of the Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), praised NEMA’s proactive engagement with stakeholders.
He urged the agency to expand the scope of its consultations to involve more stakeholders.
“The inclusion of more stakeholders is critical, given the scale of the forecasted flooding, which could displace entire communities and destroy infrastructure.
“There is a need for government to treat this matter with the utmost urgency and ensure broader participation in mitigation efforts to minimise the impact of the impending disaster,” Mbee stated.
Participating organisations at the engagement included the Ministry of Health, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Police, NSCDC, FRSC, Red Cross, civil society organisations, Local Government representatives, and the vulnerable communities, among others.
The French government has called for global synergy among the countries in Africa and western world to save the oceans from the dangers of plastic waste.
Jean-François Hasperue, the Deputy Ambassador, French Embassy in Nigeria
Jean-François Hasperue, the Deputy Ambassador, French Embassy in Nigeria, made the call during a plastic waste awareness programme at the French Institute in Abuja on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
Hasperue said the call for a united front become necessary as plastic waste had become one of the most pressing environmental crises facing the globe, with oceans bearing the brunt of the escalating threat.
“So, there is need for Nigeria, the rest of Africa and the global community to mobilise resources, policies and collaboration to save the oceans from the dangers of plastic waste.”
The envoy explained that from floating debris to microplastics embedded in marine organisms, the evidence of damage on the oceans has been overwhelming.
“Our panellists were explaining that the microplastics that are eaten by fish in the lagoon of Lagos might be eaten by people in Asia because fish have been taken by foreign boats and sold everywhere in the world.
“So, it’s a global issue that we need to address. And there is one specific issue, of course, we decided to address within the UN conference in Nice, is the one of Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ)
“This is because it has been for too many years, a gap in which we have not been able to raise cooperation among countries to save these biggest parts of the oceans.
“And I expect that we will announce that we have reached the 60 signatories for ratification by the end of this week. So, the BBNJ will be able to be implemented starting the January 1, 2026.’’
According to Hasperue, the French government is raising awareness in Nigeria particularly in Nigerian universities as part of global strategy to build capacity of students and also to rally support for empowering global local communities.
‘’We are part of a global strategy of France, because of course we would like to act at different level. We act first globally, and that’s why we decided to welcome the UN Conference on Ocean, which is actually happening in Nice from the June 9 to 13 this very week.
“And that’s why in the wake of this global conference, we wanted here in Nigeria and in Abuja to organise at our level a debate, but not only a debate here, but activities all over the month of June.”
The envoy said the French government had not less than 11 activities happening in six different states in Nigeria.
According to him, the first of all the activities is to raise awareness in Nigeria, and also rally support for empowering global local communities.
Hasperue underscored the importance of the UN Ocean Conference to addressing the dangers of plastic waste on oceans, noting that awareness creation remains very critical to ending the menace.
‘’We have to take into consideration that plastic, although it has been a solution at some point of history, that it has been now so massive, so huge, that it has become a problem.
“So, now we have to better think how to better produce plastic, how to make sure that plastic is better recycled, and how we make sure that it will less affect all life all over the world.
“They are part of a global strategy by France to not only act at the global level, but also at the level of the communities.
“So, we have a double approach, top down, but also a bottom up, to make sure that we create the link between what we are doing on the global stage to raise awareness.”
According to him, this has a translation down to the local communities. In every country, we are working with the governments and civil society organisations.
Hasperue added, “The French government is helping Nigerian universities with recycling plastic and micro plants as well as funding of projects in the universities.
‘“We have a fund of 750,000, 100,000 euros now, which is about helping universities in recycling plastic. So, within this project, we have two micro plants that will be given to Nile University and UNILAG to recycle plastic within the universities.
“We are also funding a project in five different universities.’’
Also speaking, Sebastien Bede, the Attaché for Scientific and Higher Education Cooperation at the French Embassy, pointed out that the French government has been cooperating with Nigerian partners to develop projects and implement solutions to plastic waste.
‘’So, we have this project we call the French Embassy Fund to actually develop and implement solutions to tackle plastic pollution in Nigerian university campuses. And the idea is threefold.”
According to him, the two universities: UNILAG, Nile University in Abuja, will be equipped with micro-plants to recycle plastic.
A new report released on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, by UNICEF and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) says 138 million minors were engaged in child labour worldwide in 2024.
Child labour
The figure includes 54 million children in work likely to jeopardise their health and safety.
Child labour occurs most frequently in agriculture, with sub-Saharan Africa being the worst-hit, where 87 million children are affected.
The figures, however, show a decline in child labour to 138 million in the 2021-24 period, down from 160 million in the 2016-20 period.
Nevertheless, the target of eliminating child labour by 2025, included in UN Development Goals, will not be reached.
The report came ahead of the World Day Against Child Labour, which is being marked on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the UNICEF Germany Head, Christian Schneider, said: “The new child labour report underlines the grim reality that millions of children are still being denied the right to learn, to play and simply be children in spite of all progress.
“The successes achieved pointed the way ahead through legal protection, better social protection, investment in free and high-quality education and work with dignity and fair pay for adults.
“These are effective instruments for protecting children from child labour.”
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) says it’s partnering with the Marine Platform Ltd. to domicile an Oil Capping Stack equipment in Nigeria.
Director-General, National Oil Spillage Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Chief Chukwuemeka Woke
Mr. Chukwuemeka Woke, NOSDRA Director-General, said this on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Abuja during the inauguration of a Technical Committee to oversee the installation and operation of the equipment.
An oil capping stack is a specialised piece of equipment used to temporarily seal an oil well or other wells during a blowout, to control and prevent further oil and gas blowouts.
Woke said NOSRA, as an agency, is saddled with the responsibility of managing oil spillage in Nigeria.
He said that the domiciling of capping stack equipment in Nigeria was necessary to manage spillage.
He said that the equipment would help to reduce time wastage and cost of managing spillage.
“NOSDRA is open to any responsible government, government agencies, individuals or private companies that will add value to what we are doing in addressing oil spills.
“Having listened to the robust presentation and after proper scrutiny by our relevant technical department, we have come to a conclusion that your company has the capacity and the capability to add value to oil spill management.
“It is very obvious that this equipment will help in reducing response time, which is very key because if response time is reduced during blowouts, the gravity of damage will also reduce and it will save costs.
“So, we have no option but to buy into this equipment especially as research has shown that the closest capping stack to Nigeria is in Angola and South Africa,” he said.
Woke noted that, with the equipment, oil blowouts would be easy to manage and the impact on the lives, properties and environment of host communities would be reduced.
He, however, called for the safe installation and operation of the equipment to avoid negative impacts on the environment.
The NOSDRA DG urged the oversight committee to put measures in place to ensure that the environment and people’s lives were not impacted negatively.
“One major assignment for the committee is to ensure human and environmental safety.
“Another is to mobilise the operators in the oil production value chain to buy into the usage of the equipment.
“This is because, if we get the partners to domicile this equipment here and the operators are not aware due to lack of proper mobilisation, then we have not done anything,” Woke said.
Dr Sola Oladipo, NOSDRA Director on Policy, Planning, Analysis and Research (PPRA), said that partnering the company was a proactive step toward managing oil spillages.
He urged operators and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to synergise to use the equipment to reduce damages caused by oil spillages.
Earlier, Mr George Chima, the General Manager and Business Development Strategist of Marine Platform Ltd., said the partnership with NOSDRA had proven Nigeria’s commitment to promoting safety and also protecting the environment.
“The capping stack being domicile is also going to promote investors’ confidence in coming into the Nigerian subsea sector and increase production.
“Having a capping stack for emergency responses cannot be overemphasised due to its numerous functionalities.
“One of the major functions of the equipment is to shut or isolate a well anytime a spill happens.
“It can also act as a diverter to the flow back from the wellhead.
“It can equally facilitate the injection of key fluids into the well-ball and facilitate chemical injection and monitoring of the critical well-ball parameters,” Chima said.
He added that with the equipment, response time to spillage would be reduced to less than 48 hours.
“The environment will be protected and the marine environment preserved from pollution,” the GM said.
Nigeria has called for the prompt ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and increased funding for blue economy initiatives to protect and sustainably manage the world’s oceans.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adgboyega Oyetola, addressing the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France on June 10
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, made the appeal while delivering Nigeria’s national statement on behalf of President Bola Tinubu at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
He stressed the need for urgent, collective global action to secure ocean health for future generations.
Oyetola highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 14, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, noting Nigeria had signed the BBNJ Agreement and begun ratification.
He underscored the importance of designating at least 30 per cent of the global ocean as Marine Protected Areas by 2030, requiring robust monitoring and enforcement.
He said as a coastal state, Nigeria viewed the ocean as vital for wealth, food security, jobs, and livelihoods.
The minister detailed domestic initiatives including the National Blue Economy Policy, a roadmap for BBNJ treaty implementation, revisions to the National Biodiversity Strategy, and a policy addressing marine plastic pollution.
“Nigeria is also conducting hydrographic surveys to support safer maritime operations.”
Oyetola further emphasised Nigeria’s leadership in proposing a High Seas Marine Protected Area in the Canary and Guinea Currents Convergence Zone.
He also highlighted the need to tackle challenges such as illegal fishing, marine dumping, and the importance of improving ocean monitoring, data collection, and regional capacity.
Lekoil Nigeria Limited, an indigenous oil and gas exploration and production company, says it has successfully completed its first crude oil export from the Otakikpo Onshore Terminal.
Chief Executive Officer of Lekoil, Lekan Akinyanmi
This milestone, achieved in partnership with Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) through the Otakikpo Joint Venture, marks a significant operational achievement and reflects the shared vision and commitment of both partners to advancing Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and contributing to the nation’s broader economic development.
The export, finalised on June 8, 2025, represents a key advancement in the JV’s strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s crude evacuation infrastructure while reducing dependence on third-party offshore loading systems.
Located in OML 11 along the southeastern coastline of Nigeria, the Otakikpo Field has been producing since 2017. The commissioning of the onshore terminal significantly enhances the JV’s capacity to manage, store, and export crude more efficiently and securely – directly impacting production uptime and revenue optimisation.
The Chief Executive Officer of Lekoil, Lekan Akinyanmi, commented: “The successful completion of our first crude export from the Otakikpo Onshore Terminal is a proud moment for Lekoil Nigeria and our operating partner GEIL. It represents not just an operational milestone, but a clear demonstration of what indigenous collaboration, technical expertise, and long-term vision can achieve.
“This terminal enhances our control over evacuation, strengthens delivery timelines, and ultimately positions us to scale production responsibly. We remain focused on creating sustainable value for our stakeholders and contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s energy future.
“Importantly, this achievement reflects strong alignment with Nigeria’s energy development goals and our commitment to ESG principles – prioritising local participation, environmental stewardship, and regulatory partnership throughout the project lifecycle.”
Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, and the GMO-free Nigeria Alliance have called on the Federal Government to place a moratorium on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their products in Nigeria. This call was made in a press statement to mark the World Food Safety Day 2025.
An anti-GMO rally in Lagos
The Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, stated that a moratorium on GMOs, including a nullification of previous permits and approvals, is critical because GMOs are designed not to address food insecurity but to consolidate control of our food and farming system in the hands of a few corporations/seed industries.
“This is known by the patent rights enforced on the products, which prohibit farmers from saving, sharing or replanting the seeds. Even those without the patent restrictions, when replanted, yield poorly. This is a calculated attack on Nigeria’s food sovereignty and must be seen as such. Seed saving and sharing is an age-long culture in Nigeria, where farming is about 80% informal, with farmers being able to select and improve seeds using traditional methods and being able to exchange the same.
“It is worthy of note that the Cotton Farmers’ Association of Nigeria in 2024 noted that in about three years since they were given the Bt Cotton to plant, they haven’t recorded any significant increase in yields compared to the indigenous varieties; instead they have observed that their soils become unproductive after they planted the genetically modified cotton,” Dr Bassey explained.
Also, speaking to why a moratorium is urgently needed, Dr Ifeanyi Casmir, a molecular biologist and researcher, noted that there is no evidence of long-term risk assessment conducted by the government on the health impact of GMOs.
He highlighted that several studies link the consumption of GMOs to diverse health disorders, including immune system dysregulation, increased allergic responses, chronic inflammation and organ toxicity, as well as tumour development. Dr Casmir also noted that studies have found Bt toxins (Cry1Ab) in 93% of pregnant women and 80% of fetal cord blood, raising risks of birth defects, cancer, and allergies.
“The fact that our regulatory agency -the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) cannot show any evidence of independent and extensive risk assessment conducted shows irresponsibility and lack of concern for public health,” he concluded.
Professor Tatfeng Mirabeau, Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, said: “Another critical reason why Nigeria should hold the brakes on GMOs is the impact on the environment. Bt Crops, for example, the Bt beans that were approved for commercial release in 2019 and 2024, respectively, contain proteins that, when released into the soil, destroy soil microorganisms, leading to soil degradation and reduced fertility.
“There have been reported cases of pest resistance leading to the development of super bugs and super weeds in the case of the herbicide-tolerant GMOs, which make up about 80% of all GMOs globally. The herbicides designed mostly by the same companies producing the seeds have been shown by studies to destroy not just the target weeds but also beneficial organisms in the ecosystem, including bees.
“GMOs pose a critical risk of genetic contamination of indigenous seed varieties owing to gene transfer. For this reason, Mexico and a host of other countries have placed a total or partial ban on GMOs. We cannot overlook such a grave threat to our plant genetic resources especially as such contamination is irreversible.”
According to Barr. Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje, ERA’s Deputy Executive Director, Nigeria currently does not have a policy on open market labelling and as such, the public does not have the right of choice as to whether or not to consume GMOs, adding that this negates our right of choice and the right to safe food.
Barr. Orovwuje further noted that there are fundamental flaws with the current Biosafety Regulatory Agency, including that there is no provision on strict liability, which should ensure that the holder of a permit for any GM product takes responsibility for any negative effects that will ensue.
“Another major flaw in the National Biosafety Management Agency Act is the lack of attention to the Precautionary Principle, which simply advises a halt on any process where there are threats to health or environmental impacts from the use of GMOs.
“Nigeria needs to critically address waste, which accounts for about 40% of the food produced. In the same vein, Nigeria needs to critically address issues of insecurity/banditry that keep many farmers away from their farms, leading to reduced productivity.”
The statement concluded by stressing that Nigeria can transform its agriculture system in an inclusive and sustain-able manner by adopting and promoting agroecology – which not only ensures increased productivity by improving soil health and biodiversity but also assures economic resilience for our farmers as well as climate change resilience.
