Nigerian youths have joined their counterparts around the world to mark th e 2025 International Youth Day with clean-up exercises that combined fitness with environmental action.
Organised by Plogging Nigeria, a youth-driven environmental group, the two-week initiative drew 165 participants across 13 clean-up events between August 9 and 16, 2025.
A cross section of youths during the cleanup at Plogging Nigeria, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
The events took place at universities including Usman Danfodiyo University, University of Uyo (UNIUYO), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and Enugu, Kaduna State University, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Jos and in Port Harcourt.
In total, participants covered 18.07 kilometres over 24 hours of plogging – an activity that involves jogging while picking up litter. They collected 25 bags of plastic waste weighing 35.6kg and 119 bags of mixed waste weighing 560.66kg.
Mayokun Iyaomolere, Executive Director of Plogging Nigeria, praised the collective effort. He said, “Every step, every piece of litter collected is a powerful stride towards a cleaner Nigeria. By combining fitness with environmental action, we’re actively contributing to achieving the SDGs locally.”
At UNIUYO, Abdulfatai Olalekan, Head Plogga for the campus, said the event was a reminder of the role young people play in advancing environmental sustainability.
In Kaduna State University, Head Plogga, Habiba Suleiman, linked the day to a larger vision of leadership: “The future belongs to the youth who not only dream of change but also bend down to pick up the trash that stands in its way.”
Chinelo Ani of UNN described the collaboration across campuses as a highlight. He said, “Despite the bad weather, we cleared our campuses of waste and plastics, shared memories and made an impact together. We attain the SDGs by working together as a community.”
The initiative aligned with several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, from promoting health and well-being (SDG 3) to advancing climate action (SDG 13) and fostering partnerships (SDG 17).
Organisers said the success of this year’s events underscores the growing influence of local youth action in driving global change, “one plog at a time.”
International Youth Day is observed annually on August 12. This year’s theme, “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”, emphasises the role of young people in turning global goals into community-led action.
Former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mr. Femi Soneye, has called on the Federal Government to support the Nigerian media with targeted incentives, including tax reliefs and import duty waivers on essential media tools.
Soneye made the appeal in Abuja on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, after receiving the NUJ FCT Excellence in Corporate Communications Award, conferred on him by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.
Femi Soneye
The NUJ leadership, led by Chairperson Grace Ike, alongside the Deputy Chair, Secretary-General, and other executives, described Soneye as a consummate professional who has distinguished himself with tact and excellence in the communications field.
In his remarks, Soneye noted that while the Nigerian media remains one of the most vibrant in Africa, it continues to grapple with systemic challenges that weaken its effectiveness.
“The Nigerian media remains one of the most vibrant in Africa, but it also faces systemic challenges, financial, political, legal, and technological that weaken its effectiveness. The government can play a supportive role by granting tax incentives or relief on import duties for newsprint, broadcast equipment, and digital infrastructure,” he said.
He also urged the Federal Government to establish an independent media development fund to support investigative journalism, community radio, and newsroom innovation, drawing parallels with models in South Africa, the United States, and Canada.
The award underscores Soneye’s long-standing contributions to journalism and corporate communications, as well as his advocacy for a stronger, independent, and sustainable Nigerian media.
The South African Police Service’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) has struck a major blow against international wildlife trafficking with the arrest of six suspects allegedly linked to a fraudulent rhino horn scheme involving 964 horns destined for illegal markets in Southeast Asia.
The suspects, aged between 49 and 84, face charges of fraud, theft, and contravention of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) of 2004.
An airport official with seized rhino horns
Additional charges of racketeering and money laundering are also under consideration.
The arrests mark the culmination of a seven-year investigation by the Wildlife Trafficking Section of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, in collaboration with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s (DFFE) Green Scorpions and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Fraudulent Permits & International Smuggling
Investigators allege the suspects obtained DFFE permits under false pretences to buy and sell rhino horns domestically.
Instead of remaining in South Africa, the horns were secretly channelled into the illegal global trade, despite a strict ban on international commercial trade under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Domestic trade is permitted only with valid permits under NEMBA, but authorities say the accused exploited loopholes to mask their operations.
Minister Applauds Breakthrough
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, hailed the arrests as a landmark victory.
“This complex investigation is a powerful demonstration of South Africa’s resolve to protect its natural heritage. The Hawks’ work shows that our enforcement agencies will not hesitate to pursue those who plunder our wildlife for criminal profit. The illegal trade in rhino horn not only destroys biodiversity but also undermines the rule of law and environmental governance,” he said.
The six suspects – five men and one woman – surrendered at Sunnyside Police Station before appearing in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on August 19, 2025.
Global Wildlife Crime in Focus
Rhino horn remains one of the most lucrative commodities in illegal wildlife trafficking, fetching high prices in Asian black markets where it is wrongly believed to have medicinal and status-symbol value.
Conservationists warn that the illicit trade threatens to undo decades of progress in rhino protection.
Minister George stressed that this operation sends a clear warning to wildlife crime syndicates:
“Let there be no doubt: South Africa will bring the full force of its laws against those who plunder our wildlife. This arrest proves that syndicates cannot escape justice, no matter how complex their schemes.”
Commemorating the World Humanitarian Day 2025, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the UN system and humanitarian partners have called for the protection of humanitarian workers and civilians across the globe, as well as women and girls.
In a joint communique issued by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the duo wants international humanitarian law upheld, and protection provided to all those affected by conflict and disaster, while describing women and girls as being among the most vulnerable and most profoundly affected.
Women and girls
“This year’s World Humanitarian Day comes at a time when global solidarity with people in humanitarian need is at its lowest ebb. International humanitarian financing is collapsing. Many of the most vulnerable people have little or no support. In Nigeria, humanitarian needs are increasing, with food insecurity and malnutrition an unfolding disaster. Pipelines for food and nutrition that are lifelines for millions of people, especially children under the age of five, are severely disrupted, if not completely depleted,” stated the communique, which was endorsed by Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and Mohamed Fall, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.
While lamenting that millions of children are at risk of life threatening severe acute malnutrition (SAM), they estimated that some 31 million people are food security insecure, over 10 million children under five are acutely malnourished, while 3.5 million are severely malnourished – 2.5 million of these in six states.
“Urgent action is needed for about 400,000 SAM children, whose lives are in the balance if there is no immediate action to reverse the situation and save their lives,” the communique stated.
It added: “Globally, the humanitarian community is faced with unprecedented challenges. International humanitarian law is treated with disdain. Multilateralism has been replaced with short-term self-interest. And humanitarianism is under attack. The reform of the humanitarian system is urgently needed, building on the lessons learned over the last six decades, and the incredible know-how and experience of humanitarian partners, local and international.
“In Nigeria, humanitarian operations must become more efficient, accountable and transparent. They must be led by the Government and implemented by local partners, to the extent possible, and funded through local resources supported by the international community.”
Towards this end, the humanitarian community in Nigeria disclosed that it commits to:
Fully supporting humanitarian response and action under the leadership of the Government of Nigeria; coordinated with guidance by the Government of Nigeria.
Work with the Government to ensure a transition from an internationally supported humanitarian operation to locally led action by the end of the transition period.
Ensure a transition from the direct delivery of humanitarian aid to an enabling role for local actors, preserving core functions, such as humanitarian diplomacy, coordination, protection, and upholding humanitarian principles
A shocking new record of 383 aid workers killed in 2024 must be a wake-up call to protect all civilians in conflict and crisis and call time on impunity, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, on World Humanitarian Day.
Most of the aid workers killed were national staff serving their communities, and they were attacked in the line of duty or in their homes. An additional 308 aid workers were wounded, 125 kidnapped and 45 detained in the same year.
A UN staff member examines the remains of a UN vehicle in the aftermath of an attack in which 15 responders were killed in their uniforms in Gaza in March 2025. These included eight from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, six from the Palestinian Civil Defense and one from the UN. This was possibly the deadliest attack on aid workers in 2025. Photo credit: OCHA
“Even one attack against a humanitarian colleague is an attack on all of us and on the people we serve,” said Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. “Attacks on this scale, with zero accountability, are a shameful indictment of international inaction and apathy. As the humanitarian community, we demand – again – that those with power and influence act for humanity, protect civilians and aid workers and hold perpetrators to account.”
The 31 per cent surge in aid worker deaths compared to 2023 was driven by the relentless conflicts in Gaza, where 181 humanitarian workers were killed, and in Sudan, where 60 lost their lives. Violence against aid workers increased in 21 countries in 2024 compared to the previous year, with State actors the most common perpetrators.
The first eight months of 2025 show no sign of a reversal of the disturbing trend: 265 aid workers have been killed as of 14 August, according to provisional data from the Aid Worker Security Database¹.
Attacks on humanitarian workers, assets and operations violate international humanitarian law and undermine the lifelines that sustain millions of people trapped in war and disaster zones.
The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2730 in May 2024, which reaffirmed the obligation on parties to conflict and Member States to protect humanitarian personnel and called for independent investigations into violations. But the lack of accountability remains pervasive.
On this World Humanitarian Day, aid workers and their supporters commemorate those killed and stand in solidarity with those serving people in need, demanding urgent protection for civilians and aid operations.
The global #ActForHumanity campaign is relaunched with added urgency, calling on the public to stand with humanitarians, demand protection and support the lifelines they provide.
Fletcher added: “Violence against aid workers is not inevitable. It must end.”
The official cars used by Germany’s top political echelon release significantly more climate-damaging carbon dioxide emissions than the average vehicle driven by citizens, a new analysis suggests.
Only 87 of the country’s top 238 politicians drive an electric vehicle, according to a ranking by the Environmental Action Germany (DUH) group released on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
Winfried Kretschmann, Governor of Baden-Württemberg State, stands by his fully electric car
“In spite of the advancing climate crisis, there are no signs of a consistent switch to fuel-efficient official cars in Cabinet even after the change of government,” the organisation said.
However, the analysis found that the use of fully electric cars at the federal level has risen slightly from 50 per cent to 57 per cent compared to the previous year.
The DUH figures came with some caveats however.
For example, the ranking was based on the assumption that plug-in hybrids were only used in combustion mode.
While studies suggested that this was often the case, the authors did not examine the specific driving behaviour of top politicians and their drivers.
In addition, only one vehicle was listed for each politician, but many have several cars at their disposal.
Four out of Germany’s 11 federal ministers drove a fully electric car while seven others use a plug-in hybrid.
The official car used by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and some other top Cabinet members has been excluded from the analysis as they are armoured, making them significantly heavier.
Among the premiers of Germany’s 16 states, only Winfried Kretschmann, a Green politician who governs the south-western state of Baden-Württemberg, drives a fully electric car.
Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) has warned that Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in the global shift to clean mobility, calling for urgent collaboration to fast-track Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption.
Its Executive Secretary, Mr. Clement Isong, gave the warning during an online webinar titled “Accelerating Electric Mobility Adoption in Nigeria by Unlocking Downstream Potential” on Monday, August 18, 2025.
Electric Vehicle charging station
Isong said that the association had already taken practical steps by installing 12 EV charging and battery-swapping stations alongside five aftersales facilities across the country.
“Collaboration among regulators, investors, and private sector stakeholders is critical to building a viable EV ecosystem in Nigeria.
“MEMAN remains committed to fostering dialogue and innovation in the downstream sector,” Isong said.
He said that with transportation accounting for 28 per cent of Nigeria’s greenhouse gas emissions and rising fuel prices burdening households and businesses.
Dr Mukaila Oseni, Director of Operations, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), cited the International Energy Agency’s forecast that the number of EVs worldwide will rise to 145 million by 2030.
“Nigeria must diversify its energy mix, lower transportation costs in the long run, and reduce carbon emissions.
“EV adoption is no longer optional. It is essential,” Oseni said.
He, however, admitted challenges remain: high upfront vehicle costs, weak charging infrastructure, unreliable grid power, and low consumer awareness.
Oseni added that NMDPRA had been reviewing regulatory policies to encourage private investment, technology adoption, and innovative business models.
He further urged stakeholders to leverage the nation’s vast fuel retail network as future charging hubs, while also considering interim options such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as cleaner alternatives.
The webinar, hosted by MEMAN’s Competency Centre, highlighted financing models, local vehicle assembly, and consumer education as critical tools to make EVs accessible and affordable.
With the world moving rapidly towards electrified transport, participants agreed on one point: Nigeria must act decisively to embed EVs in its energy transition strategy or risk being left behind.
Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies, Mr. Osa Igiehon, has urged Africa to define its energy future by leveraging its hydrocarbons and renewable resources.
In a statement on Monday, August 18, 2025, Igiehon affirmed Heirs Energies’ commitment to Africa’s energy sufficiency through active participation in global energy forums and strategic industry collaborations.
Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies, Mr. Osa Igiehon
He cited the company’s impactful presence at two landmark events: the U.S.–Africa Energy Forum (USAEF) in Houston, Texas, and the Namibia International Oil & Gas Conference 2025.
At both events, Heirs Energies showcased its responsible strategy to harness Africa’s natural resources, ensuring energy security, driving industrialisation, and fostering shared prosperity across the continent.
At the USAEF, Igiehon joined energy leaders and policymakers in discussions on the future of U.S.–Africa energy cooperation and sustainable development partnerships.
“At Heirs Energies, we are committed to energy sufficiency for millions, while prioritising sustainability, innovation, and local capacity building as pillars of our growth,” he said.
He noted that the forum enabled deeper engagement with U.S. investors, technology providers, and agencies on financing and innovation to accelerate Africa’s path towards energy independence.
Following the USAEF, Heirs Energies advanced its engagement to Namibia, one of Africa’s most promising frontier markets for oil and gas development.
Igiehon joined a high-profile panel with international and regional operators, sharing perspectives on building responsible, inclusive, and sustainable energy industries across Africa.
Reflecting on Namibia’s opportunities, he stated: “This visit marks the start of a long-term partnership, with more collaborations ahead to boost Namibia’s energy development.”
He added that Heirs Energies’ participation underscores its evolution from a Nigerian operator to a pan-African leader balancing commercial success with societal impact.
According to him, these engagements embody Africapitalism, championed by the company’s founder, Mr Tony Elumelu, which advocates private-sector leadership in driving Africa’s development.
Igiehon reaffirmed Heirs Energies as Africa’s leading indigenous-owned integrated energy company, dedicated to meeting the continent’s needs while aligning with global sustainability goals.
“With innovation, environmental responsibility, and community development at our core, Heirs Energies is positioned to lead Africa’s energy transformation towards a prosperous future,” he added.
The Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) has clarified the move behind its Public Private Partnership (PPP) pilot initiative announced recently to expand access of potable water in the state.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Managing Director, LWC, Mr Mukhtaar Tijani, on Monday, August 18, 2025, in Lagos.
Managing Director of the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Muktaar Tijani
Six civil society organisations (CSOs) had criticised the LWC on its PPP initiative calling it privatisation of water.
Tijani described the initiative as a Public-Private Partnership model designed to attract private sector investment, efficiency, and expertise.
He said the state government would retain the regulatory oversight to ensure fairness.
Tijani said the proposed initiative was not privatisation – defined as a transfer of ownership and control from public to private hands.
“The state government cannot solely undertake all infrastructural projects, given their enormous and capital-intensive nature.
“The PPP model is a collaborative mechanism to scale up water supply, ensure reliability, and deliver sustainable services to over 22 million Lagos residents,” Tijani said.
He explained that its recent stakeholders’ engagement was open and inclusive, with blanket invitations extended across non-governmental organisations, development partners, and private operators.
“The process was not geographically selective, ensuring broad participation,” Tijani said.
He noted that while most stakeholders supported the PPP model for Lagos’ 48 mini-waterworks, the Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) declined its invitation.
“In its response, CAPPA cited procedural concerns and differences in principles, stressing that its non-participation was a deliberate choice,” Tijani said.
He cited successful PPPs in water services across Africa – in Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Morocco, Egypt, and Malawi – as evidence that the model can work effectively when properly regulated.
The managing director announced the completion of the Akilo Waterworks rehabilitation project jointly executed by the Lagos State Government and WaterAid, to be inaugurated in September.
“This project stands as a positive example of what PPPs can achieve in Lagos’ water sector.
“Our ongoing engagements aim to build trust and deepen public understanding of PPP dynamics in utilities like water supply.
“The goal remains the same: improved access, capacity, and service delivery for all Lagosians,” Tijani said.
The Yankari Game Reserve, one of Nigeria’s premier national parks, has been engrossed in numerous challenges threatening its survival.
These challenges range from poaching, insecurity, climate change to lack of investments and political commitments.
Yankari Game Reserve
Located in the southern part of Bauchi State, the myriad of challenges bedeviling the park is gradually pushing it to a state of total decline and extinction of its wildlife population.
Sprawling across more than 2,200 square kilometres of pristine savannah, Yankari is a magnet for local and international visitors; its rare wildlife, breathtaking landscapes and iconic Wikki Warm Springs made it a household name.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the reserve recorded up to 20,000 visitors annually, boosting Bauchi’s economy and putting it firmly on the global tourism map.
Today, the picture is starkly different: wildlife numbers have dwindled, facilities have fallen into disrepair, and tourist arrivals plummeted.
Roads within the reserve are poorly maintained, game-viewing infrastructure is failing, and insecurity in surrounding communities has scared away potential visitors.
Elephants, lions, buffaloes, antelopes, baboons, and other species still roam Yankari, but conservationists warn that their survival is under threat.
Poachers, often armed with sophisticated weapons, continue to hunt with impunity, targeting elephants for ivory, killing antelopes for bush-meat, and feeding the illegal wildlife trade.
The human threat extends beyond poaching; banditry, cattle rustling, and farmer-herder clashes in nearby communities have spilled into areas bordering the reserve, creating a climate of fear.
Tour operators say bookings have sharply declined in the past three years.
Dr Ismail Bala, an Environmentalist and Conservation Advocate, said that the foremost game reserve was at a breaking point.
“The ecosystem is collapsing slowly and unless urgent steps are taken, the reserve may lose its value, as a major tourist destination,” he said.
Mr Samuel Garba, a long-time stakeholder in Yankari’s tourism business, said that the reserve used to receive hundreds of tourists during festive periods.
“Now, bookings are rare; people do not feel safe,” Garba said.
Observers say the ripple effects on the local economy are severe.
For decades, the reserve supported hundreds of jobs: tour guides, drivers, artisans, food vendors, and craft sellers.
Now, many have abandoned their trades or migrated to cities in search of work.
Tourism expert Dr, Sambo Audu, believes the situation calls for a coordinated, multi-agency rescue effort.
“We need stronger wildlife protection laws, improved security, and active community engagement.
“Sustainable tourism policies that empower locals are essential; without urgent intervention, Yankari risks becoming a relic of its past glory, a wildlife haven silenced by bullets and fear,” Audu said.
Meanwhile, the Gov. Bala Mohammed-led Bauchi State Government says it is determined to reverse the decline and reposition Yankari as Nigeria’s leading ecotourism destination.
Under the newly established Bauchi State Tourism Development Corporation law, several measures have been rolled out to boost security, improve facilities, and strengthen conservation partnerships.
Dr Mohammed Nasir, Managing Director and Conservator General of the corporation, said the government was taking a multi-pronged approach such as installation of 24/7 solar-powered lighting across the reserve.
“The steps include the procurement of new vehicles and modern patrol kits for rangers, as well as joint security patrols involving police, other agencies and vigilante groups.
“Installation of virtual surveillance equipment to monitor activities within the reserve and refurbishment of tourist facilities at Wikki Warm Springs, including upgraded toilets and changing rooms.”
Nasir said rangers had also undergone advanced training through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) project.
“Partnerships with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the North East Development Commission (NEDC), and ACReSAL have brought donations of firearms, binoculars, uniforms, and other patrol equipment.
“These interventions are already producing encouraging signs.
“We have elephants giving birth in the reserve again, which means they feel safe; we are creating an enabling environment where the reserve can once again generate significant revenue for the state,” Nasir said.
A conservationist, Daniel Katanga, said that in spite of the renewed commitment, restoring Yankari to its former glory would take time, consistent funding, and strong community involvement.
“Beyond protecting wildlife, local residents must see tangible benefits from conservation efforts to become active partners in safeguarding the reserve.
“For now, the reserve stands at a crossroads, its survival depending on whether government promises translate into sustained action.
“Without it, the rustling grasslands, the trumpeting elephants, and the crystal waters of Wikki Warm Springs may soon become little more than fading memories of a paradise lost,’’ he said.
A report by ACReSAL, says the intervention to salvage Yankari is not just about providing equipment – it is about long-term change.
“All maintenance and repair costs have been incorporated into the Bauchi State Ministry of Tourism and Culture’s budget, ensuring that the improvements at Yankari are here to stay.
“A Baseline Study and a 10-year (2025-2035) Management Plan are being developed to ensure that Yankari remains a leading ecological and tourist destination for years to come.
“This Yankari story shows that with the right tools, training, and support, even the most neglected places can be revitalised,” it said.
From the foregoing, stakeholders believe that with the political will and efficient management, Yankari can be revamped and kept on its feet again.
