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World Environment Day: NEST seeks end to plastic pollution, UNICEF inaugurates Sokoto tree plantation

Michael Simire
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World Environment Day: NEST seeks end to plastic pollution, UNICEF inaugurates Sokoto tree plantation

As the world celebrates the World Environment Day (WED) on Thursday, June 5, 2025, with the theme “Ending Plastic Pollution”, the Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NEST), a not-for-profit, has endorsed the urgent need to address the global menace of plastic pollution.

Akobi Crescent
Plastic waste pollution in Akobi Crescent, Lagos, Nigeria

The organisation disclosed in a statement authorised by Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Chairman, Board of Directors, that it recognises that this is an issue that humanity can dispense with, without significant loss nor damage to human wellbeing, but with numerous benefits to the environment.

NEST therefore supports ending plastic pollution, he declared.

Nwajiuba submitted: “Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most important global environmental issues. Nigeria is not spared, as evidences stare us in the face. All around our cities, in high, as well as lower income neighborhoods, plastics litter. Streets cluttered with non- biodegradable materials, and the increasing prevalence of micro-plastics in our food chain are clear reminders of the urgent need for bold action.

“What was hitherto an urban problem in Nigeria, now pervades rural areas. In rural streets, markets, farmlands and elsewhere, plastics litter. Nigerians wrap and cook with plastics oblivious of the health risks. Plastic packaging, and single use plastic shopping bags are not just common but all pervading. Disposal of these plastics is also problematic. Open burning by street corners and homestead is common, with adverse consequences for human health, especially respiratory challenges.

“These plastics end in sewers and drainages, creating blockages. They are implicated in flooding in many places. Plastics find their way into rivers, seas and oceans, and adversely affect aquatic lives and health. They also end in farms, adversely affecting soil characteristics and crop yield. This has therefore become an unprecedented threat to ecosystems, human health, and sustainable development.

“Ending plastic pollution does not have to mean end use of plastics. It calls for responsible use and disposal of plastics. We call on everyone to take responsibility for changing the way plastics are made, used, and disposed of.

“Ending plastic pollution calls for urgent actions, and not mere words. All hands should be on deck in this regard.

“Individuals, families, trade groups, market associations, and government, and civil society should urgently embark on measures to end plastic pollution.

“We acknowledge that a few states, notably Lagos state, have started taking action towards ending single use plastic shopping bags. NEST endorses this. We also call on other states of Nigeria to urgently take action along the same line.”

NEST acknowledges that ending plastic pollution necessitates a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond increasing public awareness, adding that it calls for knowledge generation, technological advancement, financial investment, regulatory changes, and community empowerment and inclusiveness.

In advancing this, NEST recommends action in the following ways:

  1. Promoting Sustainable Alternatives by advocating for the adoption of bio- degradable and reusable materials across communities and industry.
  2. Community Education through organizing grassroots initiatives to raise public knowledge of the effects of plastic pollution and workable solutions to cut back on plastic use.
  3. Promoting Policy Advocacy by working with stakeholders and the government to improve waste management, plastic production, and enforcement procedures.
  4. Promoting Research and Innovation via supporting scientific investigations and advancements in recycling and sustainable plastic waste management technology.

A Call to Action for Nigeria

According to NEST, ending plastic pollution is not the responsibility of one institution or sector alone, and every Nigerian must work together to achieve this. It called on the government to enhance waste management infrastructure and expedite the implementation of laws against single-use plastics.

“The Federal Government should revisit its suspension of the Implementation of the Green Taxation that imposed tax on single use plastics,” submitted NEST, adding:

“Again, companies should invest in sustainable alternatives and reduce their use of plastic packaging in order to embrace the circular economy. The 5Rs of waste management – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink – should be embraced by communities and individuals and incorporated into day-to-day activities.

“In conclusion, as we celebrate World Environment Day 2025, we are all encouraged to recommit to eradicating plastic pollution in Nigeria. Through this, we can preserve public health, protect our environment, and guarantee a sustainable future for coming generations by working together via innovation, education, and legislative action.”

In a related development, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the youth wing of Volunteer Advocates (U-Report), has inaugurated the planting of 1,000 trees in Sokoto State to commemorate World Environment Day 2025.

The initiative, launched at Rumbukawa Primary Health Centre on Thursday, was led by Mr. Ibrahim Adamu, the U-Report Coordinator in the state.

He explained that the project aimed to mitigate the effects of climate change and extreme heat in the region.

“We selected the PHC for the inauguration due to the growing number of patients who visit the facility daily.

“There is a need to enhance shade and maintain a conducive temperature to support patient recovery and improve the surrounding environment,” Adamu said.

He added that the group, in response to global calls for environmental action, has been actively advocating and sensitising communities on the importance of tree planting as a long-term solution to environmental degradation.

Adamu assured that U-Report members would continue planting trees across Sokoto and ensure proper care and maintenance of every plantation.

Also speaking, Mr. Mustapha Umar, the Community Health Officer (CHO) of the facility, expressed appreciation to UNICEF and U-Report for selecting the PHC as the site for the initiative.

“This gesture will significantly help in addressing the environmental challenges faced by our facility and improve the overall atmosphere.

“Personally, I have a passion for planting and caring for trees, so I assure you that these trees will be well taken care of,” he said.

The World Environment Day is observed every year on June 5 and has the theme for 2025: “Ending Plastic Pollution.”

Waste managers laud Tinubu’s achievements in environmental sustainability

Michael Simire
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Waste managers laud Tinubu’s achievements in environmental sustainability

In celebration of 2025 World Environment Day, the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) has lauded several efforts being put in place by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in managing environmental resources and ensuring its availability for future generations.

Olugbenga Adebola
Mr. Olugbenga Adebola, President of Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN)

Dr. Olugbenga Adebola, National President of AWAMN, gave this commendation in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, during a media session in honour of Mr. President.

He noted that, since 2008, the Association had bestowed the highest honour and recognition on the President based on his pioneering and reformative programmes on waste management in Lagos State while he was seated as the Executive Governor. 

Adebola said: “Lagos that was once tagged as the dirtiest state in the world was transformed into one of the cleanest cities in Africa with lots of local and international awards and recognitions, so much so that the then Federal Government administration in place gave two different awards to Lagos State for the transformation, aesthetics, job and wealth creation.”

The statement reads in part: “Due to his sagacity, tenacity, dedication and commitment to the environment, his transformative agenda, job and wealth creation, Asiwaju Tinubu whom the Association also decorated as the Generalissiomo of the Environment developed a pro-poor home-grown waste management model tagged the PSP. This home-grown waste management system did the magic of transforming Lagos State through house-to-house waste collection and eradicating the mountains of waste that dotted the landscape of the state.

“Asiwaju’s feat and success soon became a reference point and role model that was adopted by close to 30 states in Nigeria. It also attracted so many African countries that came to understudy the Lagos Model. As an Association, we are proud to be known as one of the sustainable legacies of Asiwaju in Lagos State and now across the country.

“In view of this, we decided to celebrate our Grand Patron – The Generalissimo of the Environment – on his administration’s midterm achievements, coincidentally at this period when the whole world is marking the 2025 World Environment Day under the theme: ‘End Plastic Pollution’. This is not about politics, but about performance, antecedents, future plans and renewed hope assurances.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has made notable strides in environmental sustainability, particularly in waste management and circular economy over the last two years.”

The group listed some key achievements to include: Cleantech Innovation Policy, Sustainable Energy Access Project (SEAP), Circular Economy Initiatives, Climate Change Act: Enacted in January 2024, Clean Cooking Gas Initiative, Greening the Sahel Initiative, Oil and Gas Sector Reforms, Sustainability Reporting, International Cooperation, Ending Open Defecation, Energy Transition Plan, Carbon Market Activation Policy, Global Climate Change Investment Fund, Sovereign Green Bond, Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative (Pi-CNG) and Climate-Smart Agriculture.

By Ajibola Adedoye

Osun unveils climate-smart investment portfolio at South-West renewable energy roundtable

Michael Simire
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Osun unveils climate-smart investment portfolio at South-West renewable energy roundtable

Osun State Government on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, unveiled its Climate-smart Investment Portfolio at the first-ever South-west Post-conference Stakeholders’ Roundtable on Renewable Energy, tagged, “From Vision to Action: Localizing Nigeria’s Renewable Energy Legislative Agenda”.

Osun State
Dignitaries at the South-west Post-conference Stakeholders’ Roundtable on Renewable Energy

Speaking on behalf of Governor Adeleke at Oasis Events and Conference Centre, Osogbo, the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, noted that Osun is also presenting the draft of its Renewable Energy Policy, crafted to establish a strong legislative and institutional foundation for an inclusive energy transition at the sub national level.

Governor Adeleke further stated that Osun is also launching the draft of its Climate Action Plan, which was developed in consultation with experts, grassroots communities and development partners.

He then declared the two days event open while stating that Osun is establishing a State Recycling Hub, showcasing electric motorcycles, and launching Green Clubs in schools, because of its climate vision that extends beyond now but for generations yet unborn.

He said, “On this special day, we are unveiling our Climate-Smart Investment Portfolio being a strategic roadmap designed to attract responsible capital into renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure and the circular economy. We are also presenting the Draft Osun State Renewable Energy Policy, crafted to establish a strong legislative and institutional foundation for an inclusive energy transition at the sub national level.

“In addition, we are launching the Draft Osun State Climate Action Plan, which was developed in consultation with experts, grassroots communities and our development partners. We are equally proud to unveil the IMOLE Solar Lantern Project which is a practical and symbolic solution for last-mile energy access. “One Child, One Lantern” is our promise. Every child deserves light to study, dream and grow, regardless of their location or background.

“To all our delegates: you will find a sample of the IMOLE Solar Lantern in your conference bag, not just as a keepsake but as a beacon of the future we are striving for. Let it remind you of a child in Iwo, Ifetedo, or Ikire whose dreams now shine a little brighter. Furthermore, we are establishing the Osun State Recycling Hub, showcasing electric motorcycles, and launching Green Clubs in Schools, because our climate vision extends beyond today; it is for the generations yet unborn.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are not just generating megawatts but we are generating ownership, inclusion, and dignity. The power we seek is not only electrical; it is political, social, and transformational. This roundtable is not just about Osun. It is about building regional synergy across the South-West. From Lagos to Ekiti, Ogun to Ondo — we must collaborate, legislate, and invest together.

“To our lawmakers: let this be the dawn of bold, forward-looking climate legislation. To our scholars: let your research inform our policies, and your students inspire our future. To our youths: your creativity is not just welcome, it is essential. To our development partners: we thank you, but we also urge you to invest more, trust local leadership more and walk this path more closely with us.

“In conclusion, in Osun, ‘Imole De’ is more than a slogan, it is a statement of purpose. And today, that light becomes solar, it becomes clean, it becomes fair and it becomes just. May this roundtable spark policies, partnerships, and programmes that outlive us and may the lantern you carry from here light up more than rooms. May it also light up communities, classrooms and the conscience of this great nation.”

In her address, Professor Chinwe Obuaku, Consultant to Osun State Government on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, noted that the post-conference’s objective is to shape clear, actionable, and localised solutions for renewable energy development.

She, therefore, emphasised the importance of job creation access to clean energy, and inclusive growth in Osun State and the wider South West.

Minister of Information to chair GOCOP book launch in Abuja

Michael Simire
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Minister of Information to chair GOCOP book launch in Abuja

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, is to chair the public presentation of the book Nigeria Media Renaissance: GOCOP Perspective on Online Publishing, a publication of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP). The event is scheduled for Tuesday. June 17, 2025, at the Continental Hotel, Abuja.

Mohammed Idris
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris

President of GOCOP, Maureen Chigbo, who confirmed this development, said the book presentation will be graced by eminent personalities from all walks of life, including government officials, captains of industry, media practitioners and other professionals, representatives of international organisations, directors of non-governmental organisations.

Alhaji Idris was sworn in as Minister of Information and National Orientation on August 21, 2023, following his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With over three decades of experience in broadcasting, newspapering, public relations, and advertising, Idris has brought a wealth of expertise to the role.

His academic background includes degrees in English Studies from Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto, and Bayero University, Kano. As an entrepreneur, he established notable media outlets such as Blueprint, WE FM radio station, and Rapid Television in Abuja. He is a prominent figure in professional associations such as National Institute of Public Relations, African Public Relations Association, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria, and Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria.

As the founder of Bifocal Communications, a leading public relations and communications consultancy, Idris has served both local and transnational corporations.

Beyond his professional endeavours, Idris is committed to social responsibility through the Mohammed Idris Malagi (MIM) Foundation, which has positively impacted many lives. As a reward for his contributions to the development of his immediate environment and beyond, The Etsu Nupe conferred “Kaakaki Nupe” on him.

A press statement by the GOCOP Publicity Secretary, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, quoted the GOCOP president as saying that the proceeds of the book will be used to fund the N2.3 billion GOCOP MEDIA CENTRE, a multi-purpose resource centre comprising a secretariat, a 21st Century library and event halls, among others.

Nweke further noted that the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) was established to promote professionalism in online publishing, ensuring its members uphold the fundamental principles of journalism.

Comprising seasoned editors and senior journalists with distinguished career in print and electronic media, GOCOP’s membership has traversed the online publishing, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping the future of journalism globally. With 120 corporate publishers as members, GOCOP continues to uphold the highest standards of online journalism.

Weak winds key factor in 2023 extreme North Atlantic heatwave – Study

Michael Simire
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Weak winds key factor in 2023 extreme North Atlantic heatwave – Study

The largest marine heatwave ever recorded in the North Atlantic Ocean, occurring in the summer of 2023, was primarily driven by unusually weak winds, leading to an exceptionally shallow – and warm – upper ocean layer, according to a new international study published in Nature.

North Atlantic heatwave
North Atlantic heatwave

Such extreme marine heat events are likely to become more frequent as climate change continues to thin the ocean’s upper layer, conclude the researchers, including Stefan Rahmstorf from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).

The summer of 2023 saw the North Atlantic Ocean warm at an unprecedented rate, with surface temperatures exceeding previous records by more than 2°C in some regions. The marine heatwave contributed significantly to the record global mean temperature that year and has been linked to severe heatwaves and flooding across parts of Europe.

Using a combination of observational data, atmospheric hindcasts, and advanced ocean modelling, researchers from the University of New South Wales, PIK, the Australian National University, and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology identify weak winds and the resulting shallow uppermost layer of the ocean as key drivers of the marine heatwave.

The thickness of the ocean’s upper layer in summer depends on winds to stir and mix the water. In 2023, weaker winds made this layer thinner than usual – sometimes just 10 metres deep instead of the typical 20-40 metres – allowing heat to accumulate more quickly at the ocean surface. As the surface water warms, it becomes less dense and thus lighter, making it harder for winds to mix the ocean and resulting in a thinner upper layer.

“As global warming reduces ocean mixing, the upper layer becomes thinner and more prone to rapid heating – a trend that could lead to more frequent and intense marine heatwaves,” says co-author Stefan Rahmstorf, head of Earth System Analysis at PIK.

The study traces a steady trend over the past four decades toward a thinner upper layer in the North Atlantic, primarily driven by surface ocean warming.

“This shows that climate change is also changing the structure of our oceans in ways that amplify climate extremes,” says Rahmstorf.

The research also highlights the broader risks of such events: the North Atlantic plays a central role in the global climate system, including the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, which helps regulate temperatures across the Northern Hemisphere.

Continued warming and a thinning surface layer could have far-reaching effects, including feedbacks that affect ice melt in Greenland and long-term changes in ocean circulation.

WHO launches Cholera Preparedness and Response Strategy for Eastern Mediterranean Region

Michael Simire
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WHO launches Cholera Preparedness and Response Strategy for Eastern Mediterranean Region

The World Health Organisation’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, launched a new strategy to reduce the burden of cholera across the Region by 2028. The strategy sets out a blueprint for a scaled-up multisectoral approach to tackle the root causes of cholera spread and prevent future outbreaks, aiming to significantly reduce cholera-related morbidity and deaths.

Cholera
The Strategy comes at a critical time amid a surge in cases of suspected cholera and acute watery diarrhea in several countries across the Region

The Cholera Preparedness and Response Strategy for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region for 2025-2028 comes at a critical time amid a surge in cases of suspected cholera and acute watery diarrhea in several countries across the Region. So far in 2025, the regional cholera burden accounts for almost 55% of all cholera cases and deaths globally.

“Many countries in our Region have become a breeding ground for cholera due to a dangerous mix of protracted conflict, weak health systems, poverty, displacement, poor water, sanitation, and hygiene systems, low public awareness, and extreme climatic shocks. To protect those most at risk, especially children and displaced populations, and to safeguard public health more broadly, we must address these underlying drivers with sustained commitment and coordinated, collective action,” says Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

Sudan is experiencing one of the most severe outbreaks in recent history, with 65,291 cases and 1,721 deaths reported across 12 states as of 26 May 2025; Khartoum State alone has recorded over 7,600 cases and 142 deaths. In Yemen, cholera remains endemic, with over 271 000 suspected cases and 884 deaths reported since March 2024. Syria faces a high risk of resurgence, prompting WHO to initiate a six-month emergency response targeting 850,000 vulnerable people in Aleppo, Lattakia, Al-Hasakeh and Damascus governorates.

The new regional cholera strategy is aligned with the Global Task Force on Cholera Control’s Roadmap to end cholera by 2030, the WHO’s Health Emergencies Preparedness and Response Framework, and the Global Cholera Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan.

It outlines concrete actions for countries to strengthen their preparedness and response capacities, focusing on four inter-connected pillars:

  1. Strengthening multisectoral coordination to unify health, water, sanitation, and emergency actors under a single framework for cholera control.
  2. Enhancing early warning and detection systems and rapid response mechanisms to detect and contain outbreaks before they escalate.
  3. Expanding access to high-quality case management to reduce mortality through timely diagnosis and treatment.  
  4. Scaling-up water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in high-risk and underserved areas, tackling the environmental drivers of cholera transmission.
  5. Strengthening collaboration in cross-cutting areas such as risk communication and community engagement (RCCE).

The strategy also integrates prevention and response to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PRSEAH), gender mainstreaming equity and inclusion, and operational evidence-based research.

The Implementation of the strategy will be monitored through annual performance reviews, with a mid-term assessment planned to help track progress and adapt the strategy to evolving needs. However, effective implementation will require overcoming challenges, including worsening humanitarian conditions, competing health priorities, chronic underfunding, limited human resources, fragile health infrastructure, and ongoing global shortages of essential cholera supplies, such as vaccines and rehydration therapy treatments.

“Cholera is preventable, treatable, and can be controlled, but only if we act together and without delay,” said Dr. Balkhy. “This strategy is more than a health intervention; it is a call for leadership, solidarity, and sustained investment. Ending cholera in the Eastern Mediterranean, and beyond, is within our reach, but only through coordinated action that addresses systemic inequities and builds resilience where it is needed most. We must not wait for the next deadly outbreak to act.”

How Cuba’s coastal communities fight climate change

Michael Simire
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How Cuba’s coastal communities fight climate change

In the coastal neighbourhood of Litoral in Manzanillo, Cuba, the sea is both a lifeline and a threat. Every time a storm darkens the sky, families like Martha Labrada’s brace for evacuation. And even on calm days, saltwater seeps silently into the land, corroding house foundations and tainting freshwater wells.

Cuba
With 57% of its population living in coastal municipalities, Cuba faces high vulnerability to sea level rise and storms. Photo credit: Secret Nature/David Estrada Rodriguez

“The water almost always enters this area,” says Labrada, aged 65, who has led the community council here for more than a decade. “The houses were built too close to the sea, and the mangroves are deforested.”

Over the past few decades, climate-related risks along Cuba’s coastline have steadily intensified. 119 coastal human settlements have been identified as at risk from a range of climate-change-related impacts such as flooding, coastal erosion, and saline intrusion, or even disappearing altogether.

A national response aimed at restoring ecosystems and educating communities

In response to increasingly urgent climate-related threats, a quiet transformation is unfolding. With over $44 million in support from GCF and the United Nations Development Programme, the Coastal Resilience to Climate Change in Cuba through Ecosystem Based Adaptation (Mi Costa) project aims to increase the climate resilience of over 1.3 million vulnerable people living in the target coastal communities. 

Spanning 24 municipalities and 7 coastal settlements, Mi Costa is a national initiative grounded in community-informed solutions, each tailored to the specific climate challenges of its location. Activities include restoring mangroves, swamp forests, and grass swamps to improve the health of seagrass beds and coral reefs, as well as partnering with communities and investing in efforts to strengthen local resilience and planning.

The project aims to train 60 per cent of the population in targeted areas to protect ecosystems, enhance climate adaptation, and respond more effectively to the impacts of climate-induced flooding.

For many, like Manzanillo fisherman Roberto David Rosales, the project’s arrival was timely. “Almost two metres were lost in this area in one year,” he says, recalling a shoreline path he once walked that has since vanished beneath the sea. “These are things that force us to be protectors of the mangroves. The Mi Costa project came at the right time.”

Restoring Cuba’s vital mangrove and wetland habitats

Mangroves and wetlands are essential parts of the global ocean system. These dynamic habitats act as natural infrastructure, reducing storm surge, anchoring soil, storing carbon, filtering water, and sheltering marine life. Protecting these systems is a step toward safeguarding the health of the ocean as a whole.

By 2029, the Mi Costa project aims to restore over 11,000 hectares of mangroves and 3,000 hectares of swamp forest. Alongside this ecological work, Mi Costa teams are building environmental monitoring systems, early warning networks, and, perhaps most importantly, trust and cooperation among local people.  

In this way, Mi Costa treats coastal ecosystems as a single, living, interconnected space. The project aims to restore water flows, reforest and preserve wetlands and marsh forests, support marine areas, and engage communities whose knowledge and expertise help them adapt to their environment.

Local communities at the heart of coastal resilience 

“What will make these initiatives sustainable is the ability of communities to continue them. It’s essential that people take ownership and learn to live with wetlands as facilitators of life,” says project coordinator, José Miguel Guzmán.  

To date, over 10,000 people, over half of them women, have been trained through community workshops and capacity-building centres. These include lessons on hydrological monitoring, invasive species management, and gender-responsive climate action.

In the town of Cajío, Mireya Acosta knows this work is deeply personal. As a project coordinator, she’s spent hours knocking on doors, listening to neighbours’ concerns, and inviting them to be part of the solution. “My goal is to continue involving people,” she says. “This project gives the community an opportunity not only to deal with the effects of climate change but also to come together and take collective action.”

Cuba’s long-term vision for coastal ecosystem restoration

Mi Costa shows what’s possible with strong community involvement and long-term vision. The project is one of the most ambitious ecosystem-based adaptation efforts in the Caribbean, offering a model for adaptation that blends nature, science, and social mobilisation.

Though the Mi Costa project will formally run through 2029, Cuba’s government has committed to supporting its maintenance and expansion for another 22 years as a cornerstone of Cuba’s national climate strategy, Tarea Vida.

For communities on Cuba’s coastline, the work is far from over. Climate adaptation isn’t an abstract policy, it’s daily life. Mangrove nurseries are still taking shape, ditches are being dug by hand, and neighbours are learning how to protect the ecosystems that protect them. It’s hard work, but hope is growing, quietly and steadily, alongside the seedlings.

Bill Gates urges Nigeria to sustain momentum for polio eradication

Michael Simire
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Bill Gates urges Nigeria to sustain momentum for polio eradication

Bill Gates, Chair of Gates Foundation, has advised the Federal Government of Nigeria to continue its longstanding commitment to end polio transmission in the country.

Bill Gates
Bill Gates, Chair, Gates Foundation

Gates said this during a media roundtable with selected journalists on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Lagos.

He emphasised that, with the tightening of global funding, it’s more important than ever that Nigeria keeps up the momentum of polio eradication.

“Now is not the time to stop because unfortunately, the virus is still circulating, and we need stronger action – especially in Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, and Kebbi states.

“What is important now is that the government urgently continues its longstanding commitment alongside partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and the heroic efforts of frontline health workers to end polio transmission.

“The emergence of variant polio cases remains a serious challenge and can fuel doubts about vaccine safety.

“That’s why we are supporting Nigerian-led and GPEI partners like UNICEF and WHO to engage affected communities directly, building trust through transparent communication, listening to concerns, and working with local leaders to dispel misinformation.

“That’s what we need to do more and the key to stopping outbreaks lies in rapid, high-quality response campaigns and closing immunity gaps,” Gates said.

He highlighted the importance of robust routine immunisation coverage to achieve and sustain a polio-free world, increasing population immunity and reducing the immediate and long-term risk of polio.

According to him, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a key partner in this effort, financing the provision of the inactivated polio vaccine in lower-income countries.

“The world is in the final sprint to end this horrific disease and Nigeria is key to that success.

“With strong investments and partnerships, I am confident we will bring about a world where no child, faces the threat of polio,” he said.

Gates acknowledged Nigerian government’s efforts and progress, disclosing that polio detections in Nigeria reduced by about 40 per cent in Q1 2025 compared to the same time last year.

“We have also seen some useful improvements in the April immunisation campaign. These are positive outcomes from all the hard work the government and partners have been doing,” he said.

The philanthropist noted that Africa’s success in eradicating wild poliovirus is a major public health achievement made possible by strong government leadership, sustained surveillance, and effective partnerships.

“But we must understand that ongoing disease surveillance will play a vital role in detecting and rapidly responding to new outbreaks,” he said.

Polio (poliomyelitis) is an infectious disease caused by a virus which invades the nervous system and often causes irreversible paralysis.

It can strike at any age but mainly affects children under five.

There is no cure for polio as it can only be prevented through vaccination.

Nigeria eradicated wild polio in 2020; however, a resurgence saw Nigeria report 122 confirmed cases of circulating poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) between January 2024 and March 10, 2025.

These cases primarily occurred in the northern states.

Transmission of cVPV2 has persisted, highlighting the ongoing challenge of eradicating polio in the country and the government considering new measures to tackle the outbreak.

Gates is on a visit to Nigeria and has met with President Bola Tinubu and engaged with federal and state leaders to discuss Nigeria’s primary health care reforms.

He is also participating in the Goalkeepers Nigeria event focused on Africa’s innovation future and meeting with local scientists and partners shaping Nigeria’s national AI strategy and scaling up health solutions.

By Oluwafunke Ishola

Bauchi bans tyres to burn hides

Michael Simire
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Bauchi bans tyres to burn hides

The Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) has banned use of tyres to burn hides and skin during the Eid-el-Adha festivities. 

Cow hides
Cow hides

Its Director-General, Dr Mahmud Bose, who spoke on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Bauchi, the state capital, said the measure would safeguard public health and the environment.

He said the use of tyres to burn hides caused severe health hazards and environmental degradation.

According to Bose, using tyres to burn animal skin releases toxic fumes containing harmful chemicals such as dioxin and furan that pose risks to respiratory health and ecological systems.

“We are committed to protecte the lives of the people and the integrity of the environment. Using tyres to process animal skin is a dangerous practice that must be stop.

“The ban is part of a broader campaign to instill sustainable environmental habits during cultural and religious festivities,’’ he said.

Bose said the agency had engaged stakeholders and community leaders, as part of  effort to curb the menace in the society.

He said the agency had deployed environmental health workers to communities, to promote compliance and safe practices.

“These teams are tasked with sensitising residents on proper methods for meat processing and safe disposal of animal excretions, to maintain hygienic surroundings during and after the celebrations,” he said.

The director urged residents of the state to support the agency, adopt safer alternatives, and avoid littering, stressing that environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility.

He reiterated commitment to enforce environmental regulations and support community awareness initiatives during the festive period.

By Ahmed Kaigama

Agency reaffirms commitment to ensuring biosecurity in Nigeria

Michael Simire
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0
Agency reaffirms commitment to ensuring biosecurity in Nigeria

National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has reassured Nigerians that the agency is saddled with the additional mandate of ensuring biosecurity in the country.

Dr Agnes Asagbra
Dr Agnes Asagbra, Director-General National Biosafety Management Agency

Dr Agnes Asagbra, Director-General (D-G) NBMA gave the assurance at a press briefing to mark her two years in office in Abuja on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

She said that the agency had strengthened biosecurity through strategic partnerships beyond food and agriculture, adding that biotechnology intersects with biosecurity.

“This is why NBMA has forged strategic partnerships with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the INTERPOL.

“Together, we have established the National Biosecurity Advisory Committee;inaugurated the National Technical Working Group on Biosecurity and initiated a National Biosecurity Action Plan from (2022 to 2026).

“These steps ensure that Nigeria is prepared to detect, prevent, and respond to any form of biological threat, whether from natural outbreaks, laboratory accidents, or bioterrorism,” Asagbra said.

The D-G said that in doing so, the environment and biodiversity would be protected, as well as the lives of people and the sovereignty of the nation.

“Under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, the NBMA is proud to have protected Nigeria’s biodiversity from unintended Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) threats.

“We have also enhanced environmental health by promoting low-chemical agriculture and advanced national food security by enabling safe innovation.

“Surveillance of GMO Products in Supermarkets is one of our proudest achievements in the past year, and it has seen to the successful surveillance and tracking of GMOs in 32 supermarkets across Nigeria.

“This exercise was not a routine inspection, but a national effort to ensure that only approved GMO products are sold to the Nigerian public,” she said.

She said that the agency had enforced proper labeling standards in line with international best practices; and strengthened consumer confidence in the food system.

Asagbra said that the exercise contributed directly to the preservation of biodiversity by preventing the unintended release or circulation of unauthorised organisms that may pose ecological risks.

“It also ensures that our people are informed and protected when it comes to their food choices.

“These two years have been driven by a clear mission: to regulate the safe and responsible application of modern biotechnology in Nigeria.

“This is done in a manner that safeguards human health, protects our environment, conserves biodiversity, and supports our national aspiration for food security and sustainable development.

“We have taken the bold step to accredit three major institutions to conduct GMO experimentation, and we certified nine facilities nationwide to handle Food, Feed, and Processing (FFP) of GMO materials,” Asagbra stated.

She added that biosafety does not end on the farm. It continues through the value chain from storage to processing to your dinner table.

By Abigael Joshua

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