Communities in Bayelsa and Delta states have called for the establishment of functional waste management systems, improved access to agricultural inputs and credit as solutions to climate change challenges in their areas.
The call is contained in a statement issued by Mrs. Success Nwanedo, the Senior Communications Officer of Academic Associates Peace works (AAPW), in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State
According to Nwanedo, the communities made the call during town-hall meetings organised by AAPW, with support from the Embassy of Denmark in Nigeria.
She said the town-hall meetings were held across selected communities in Bayelsa and Delta.
Nwanedo said the meetings were part of AAPW ongoing initiative entitled “Advancing Community Capacity to Mitigate Climate Change Impact and Develop Green and Blue Economy in the Niger Delta.”
She said that the meetings were aimed at empowering local communities to take ownership of environmental policies and amplify their voices in climate governance.
Nwanedo explained that participants from the communities shared concerns over the continued pollution of their waterways through oil spills and the health impacts of gas flaring.
“Also, the destruction of marine life by unregulated trawlers, and the visible absence of environmental sanitation infrastructure,” she said.
According to her, some representatives of the communities called for enforcement of conservation laws, and the localisation of environmental policies to reflect community realities.
“They said these policies should be translated from environmental laws on paper to practice,” she stated.
Nwanedo said the AAPW would continue to work with community stakeholders, traditional institutions, and policymakers to turn dialogue into action, strengthening local bylaws, building technical capacity, and deepening environmental accountability.
A decisive chapter in the global fight against plastic pollution began on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Delegates from 184 countries convened for the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2 session).
Opening plenary of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2 session)
This historic mission is to finalise a legally binding international treaty aimed at ending plastic pollution, including in marine environments – and prepare it for adoption at a future Diplomatic Conference.
According to a statement by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the high-stakes negotiations, will run from Aug. 5 to Aug. 14.
It said the negotiations mark the culmination of a two-year process that began in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in 2022, and continued through key sessions in Paris, Nairobi, Ottawa, and most recently, Busan, Republic of Korea, in December 2024.
According to the statement, INC-5.2 has brought together more than 3,700 participants from 184 nations and over 619 observer organisations, making it the most ambitious global environmental negotiation since the Paris Agreement.
“Plastic pollution is already in nature, in our oceans, and even in our bodies. If we continue on this trajectory, the whole world will be drowning in plastic—with massive consequences for planetary, economic, and human health.
“But this does not have to be our future. Agreeing on a treaty text is the first step to beating plastic pollution for everyone, everywhere,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.
Since the last session in Busan, momentum has been building through a series of informal ministerial consultations, regional dialogues, and stakeholder meetings.
However, this Geneva session marks the moment for concrete outcomes.
Luis Vayas Valdivieso, Chair of the INC, said, “We are here today to fulfill an international mandate.
“This is a unique and historic opportunity for the global community to bridge differences and find common ground.
“It is not just a test of our diplomacy; it is a test of our collective responsibility to protect the environment, safeguard human health, enable sustainable economies, and stand in solidarity with those most affected by this crisis,” Valdivieso remarked.
The treaty under negotiation is expected to cover the entire life cycle of plastics from production and design to consumption, disposal, and remediation.
It will also tackle associated issues such as microplastics, extended producer responsibility, financial mechanisms, and technology transfer, crucial to countries in the Global South.
Katrin Schneeberger, Director, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, said: “Plastic waste is choking our lakes, harming wildlife, and threatening human health.
“This is more than just an environmental issue. It is a global challenge that demands urgent and collective action.
“Over the coming days, we have an opportunity to make a real difference by negotiating an effective Plastics Treaty and identifying comprehensive solutions and measures that address the full life cycle of plastic,” he added.
Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the INC, said: “What was set in motion in Nairobi has weathered complexities, moments of challenge, and hard-won progress – and it is precisely this shared endurance that strengthens our resolve and brings us, determined and forward-looking, to this historic hall today.
“Being hosted at the Palais des Nations situates INC‑5.2 within a long tradition of crucial multilateral negotiations, diplomatic breakthroughs, and international legal frameworks. It is essential that this session now be part of that legacy.”
Civil society organisations and coastal communities have launched a formal appeal against the South African government’s controversial decision to green-light Shell’s Northern Cape Ultra Deep (NCUD) oil and gas project.
Led by The Green Connection and Natural Justice, and joined by numerous West Coast communities, the appeal argues that Shell’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report (ESIAR) appears to be riddled with flaws and omissions that may make the approval not only reckless, but potentially unlawful.
Activists protesting against the Shell oil drilling project
“If allowed to proceed, the proposed project will be the deepest offshore well in South Africa and the third deepest in the world. Yet unbelievably, the emergency plans for this highly risky venture remain undisclosed, even to the State,” says Neville van Rooy, Community Outreach Coordinator at The Green Connection.
“Shell wants to drill 3,200 metres below sea level – nearly as deep as where the Titanic wreckage lies. This ultra-deep environment is extremely harsh due to the crushing pressure that results at this depth, which is also always in darkness and consistently near-freezing (below 5°C). With all the challenges that could come with such a project, how can South Africans accept that the company has secured environmental authorisation without providing a detailed strategy showing how it would handle a blowout at such unprecedented depths?
“How could decision-makers have considered all the risks or fully assess the adequacy of the various contingency plans, without having detailed, site-specific emergency response plans,” says van Rooy.
The organisations argue that the final ESIAR unlawfully underestimates the risk and scale of a blowout by relying on an unsupported 20-day oil spill scenario. This estimate assumes that a capping stack located at Saldanha Bay could be installed within that period. However, since the drilling is planned at depths exceeding the stack’s capabilities, Shell should have identified suitable alternative capping solutions.
There are only three capping stacks globally that are equipped for such depths. These are located in the United Kingdom (UK), Singapore, and the United States (US), but it is not clear whether Shell can access or rapidly deploy them to South Africa.
“Even if the Saldanha stack were usable, the 20-day assumption mirrors timelines used for much shallower and more accessible projects and is dramatically shorter than even Shell’s own 100-day estimate for its previous Perdido project (2,450 m depth) and Chevron’s 177-day estimate for shallower operations in the Gulf of Mexico. By modelling an unrealistically short spill duration, the ESIAR significantly underestimates potential impacts and misleads decision-makers. This is a serious flaw in the environmental authorisation,” says van Rooy.
Then there are those communities who are likely to be affected by the project. Since important documents were not made available, there was no real chance for people to have their say on Shell’s oil spill response plans.
Shahil Singh, Legal Advisor at The Green Connection says, “This lack of transparency violates several legal protections, including Section 33 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to fair, reasonable, and lawful administrative action. It also violates Section 3 of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA), which requires that people must be properly informed and given a fair chance to respond when decisions significantly affect their rights or expectations.”
“These omissions are not minor,” says Singh. “It may violate the principles of South African environmental law, which demands transparency, precaution, and public participation that is both substantive and meaningful – especially in high-risk ventures like this. A key question that South Africans should want answered is why was South Africa’s deepest drilling project ever approved without full oil spill contingency plans?”
The appeals also highlight that the EIA failed to consider the combined impact of Shell’s drilling with up to 20 other wells already authorised along the West Coast – a clear breach of South African legal and international best practice standards. The project threatens to derail South Africa’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, with no plan in place to measure or manage the future carbon emissions from oil extracted in the region.
“This isn’t just about one well,” says Singh. “This is about a pattern of pushing through high-risk fossil fuel projects without proper oversight and public scrutiny, and without adhering to environmental law, scientific integrity, or long-term thinking.”
The Green Connection, Natural Justice, and affected coastal communities are calling on the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to immediately set aside Shell’s environmental authorisation. They argue that the project is not in the public interest, but instead threatens South Africa’s marine ecosystems, food security, climate commitments, and constitutional rights.
Notably, in July 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a landmark legal opinion to affirm that countries have a binding obligation under international law to address climate change – to phase out fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or face serious legal consequences, including potential liability and reparations.
“We are not against development,” says van Rooy. “But this is not development, it is exploitation – because it doesn’t uplift communities nor protect the environment but destroys instead. We cannot stand by while our ocean and our future are sacrificed for short-term corporate profit. More importantly, this project could violate their constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to their wellbeing, and to have the environment protected for future generations – as guaranteed under Section 2 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).”
Coastal Communities Speak Out
Communities and small-scale fishers are concerned that, if allowed to proceed, the NCUD project could irreparably harm South Africa’s marine ecosystems, undermine the local fishing and tourism economy, and derail progress on climate action – including commitments under the Paris Agreement and the recently signed High Seas Treaty.
Fisher and community leader from Doorn Bay, Deborah de Wee, adds, “Should Shell and Total go ahead with these oil and gas projects, it would be a huge burden on the fishing community. We rely on the ocean for food and our traditional ways of life. Community leader and small-scale fisher from Doorn Bay.
“Shell’s project threatens not just our food and culture but our very survival. Indigenous fishing practices are not commercial on paper, but they are everything to us. We deserve a say, and we say no. The government must protect our indigenous heritage and listen to those who have fished these waters for generations.”
Community advocate with Environmental Traits in Doorn Bay, Bronwyn van Neel, raised concerns about the violation of cultural rights and the failure to gain Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). She says, “Our culture and way of life are being erased by these kinds of projects. Communities like Graafwater and Leipoldtville were not even included in public participation. This is a violation of our constitutional rights and a betrayal by our own government.”
Youth activist and environmental advocate from Richtersveld Youth Language and Environmental Network, Chanel Jaar, says, “This is about protecting not just our ocean, but our cultural identity and future. Shell’s project threatens biodiversity and ignores the risks to those of us who live closest to the sea. We want a sustainable future, which we can have with the just transition, not oil spills and empty promises.”
Small-scale fisher and member of the Aukotowa group in Port Nolloth, Walter Steenkamp, says, “We cannot afford for government to support this oil and gas project with Shell. It threatens our livelihoods as coastal fishers who rely directly on a healthy ocean. Our fishing grounds could be harmed by pollution, noise, or oil spills – and once the damage is done, it cannot be undone. This is how we feed our families, send our children to school, and survive. The ocean is not just a resource – it’s our way of life. Government must put people before profit and protect our ocean for the next generation.”
On the day the final round of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty started, hundreds of citizens and civil society organisations from across the world gathered at Place des Nations in Geneva to demand an ambitious and legally binding treaty that puts people and the planet before polluters.
The demonstration, organised by Greenpeace Switzerland and the Break Free from Plastic movement, the Gallifrey Foundation and a growing coalition of environmental and social justice groups, kicked off the last phase of the UN negotiations taking place from August 5 to 14, 2025, at the Palais des Nations.
Ahead of the UN negotiations hundreds of citizens and civil society organisations from across the world gather at Place des Nations in Geneva to demand an ambitious and legally binding plastics treaty that puts people and the planet before polluters. Protesters wear yellow, red and orange to symbolise the urgency of the crisis and the danger posed by the unchecked production of plastic, which is overwhelmingly derived from fossil fuels.
Protesters wore yellow, red and orange to symbolise the urgency of the crisis and the danger posed by the unchecked production of plastic, which is overwhelmingly derived from fossil fuels.
“As host country of the negotiations on plastic pollution, we count on Switzerland to stay firm on the ambition of the future Global Treaty. With plastic production set to triple by 2050, the treaty would be bound to fail without a global target to reduce plastic production. We need to end the age of plasticto protect our health, our communities and our planet,” saidJoëlle Hérin, expert in consumption and circular economy at Greenpeace Switzerland.
For African nations, the treaty represents a critical opportunity to address the disproportionate burden of plastic pollution on the continent. Despite generating less plastic waste per capita than developed nations, African communities suffer severely from the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution, exacerbated by waste dumping from Global North countries.
Hellen Dena, Greenpeace Africa’s Pan-Africa Plastics Project Lead, said: “Our communities are drowning in plastic waste while contributing just a fraction of global production. We need a treaty that addresses plastic pollution at its source by cutting production rather than shifting the burden to those least responsible.
“Governments must not side with the petrochemical industry as we negotiate the Global Plastics Treaty. We cannot let oil-producing countries, at the behest of big oil and petrochemical companies, dominate and slow down the treaty discussions and weaken its ambition.”
Plastic production is expected to triple by 2050 if no global action is taken. Since China’s 2018 ban on plastic waste imports, Africa has become an increasingly targeted destination for plastic waste exports, creating toxic dumping grounds that contaminate soil, water sources, and air in local communities.
Scientists are only beginning to understand the long-term effects of plastics on our health. According to UNEP, there are over 16,000 chemicals used and present in plastic, at least 4,200 of which are highly hazardous to human and environmental health.
“Any effective treaty must ensure a just transition for waste pickers across Africa. An estimated 20 million people worldwide work in informal waste collection, with a significant portion in Africa. Many African initiatives are already pioneering plastic-free alternatives, reuse systems, and community-led waste management solutions that could serve as models globally,” added Dena.
African nations have demonstrated leadership at previous negotiations, with countries such as Rwanda and Ghana advocating for progressive positions on production caps and the phase-out of problematic plastics. Greenpeace Africa calls on Member States to demand cuts in plastic production through a phase-out approach, from production to disposal, to protect the environment and human health of Africans.
They must also call for strengthened synergy with the Basel and Bamako conventions that will play a critical role in eliminating Africa’s added burden of plastic waste dumping.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, marked a historic leadership transition as outgoing Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw, handed over responsibilities to Yasmine Fouad, former Minister of Environment of Egypt, at the Convention’s secretariat headquarters in Bonn, Germany.
A Mauritanian national, Thiaw led the UNCCD secretariat since 2019, having served the environment movement for more than 40 years, the last 12 with the United Nations. Under his leadership, the Convention advanced in its mission to protect people and ecosystems by restoring our land and ensuring a safer, just, and more sustainable future.
Outgoing UNCCD Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw (right), with the incoming, Yasmine Fouad
While land degradation and desertification are perceived as insurmountable challenges, the UNCCD has proved that land restoration unlocks multiple solutions. There are few places on earth where this is truer than in Africa’s Sahel, the (greater) Middle East and Central Asia.
The UNCCD has thus supported Parties in need develop and carry out large-scale restoration activities, such as the Great Green Wall(s) in Africa or the Middle East Green Initiative. Bringing degraded land back to health generates more food on the table, stabilizes economies and societies, combats climate change and restores water and biodiversity. The G20 Global Land Restoration Initiative also contributes to such effort.
The last four years have seen an awakening in the need for stepped up global efforts to build resilience to increasingly frequent and intense droughts, culminating in the launch of the International Drought Resilience Alliance in 2022 and the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership in 2024, backed by strong political and financial commitments.
Human face: The mandate of the UNCCD cut across human wellbeing and ecosystem protection in a context of vulnerability or scarcity. In that context, local communities, small holders, youth women and indigenous people have been at the center of the attention. At UNCCD COP16, UNCCD Parties took bold decisions to ensure meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and youth in the Convention’s processes. Advancing women’s land rights has been the focus of the UNCCD’s advocacy work, building on the Convention’s strong record in promoting gender equality.
Public-private partnerships: While commendable progress has been made thanks to public investments, a UNCCD study conducted by the UNCCD in 2024 revealed that investments made by the private sector in land restoration represent just 6 per cent of the total. To mobilise private sector investment in support of land restoration and drought resilience, UNCCD has therefore forged cooperation frameworks with institutions such as the World Economic Forum and launched the Business4Land Initiative.
Science-policy dialogue: The UNCCD strives to make decisions, and propose policies backed by science. In that context, building a stronger Science-Policy Interface was essential. COP16 gave mandate for a stronger voice of science in decision-making.
Outgoing Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw, said: “I’ve witnessed firsthand how degraded land turns into restored landscapes and revived livelihoods—this transformation inspired every step of my journey. I am proud to have led the UNCCD Secretariat in changing the world’s perspective from land as a problem, to land as one of the most powerful solutions for sustainable development. I thank the UNCCD Parties for their support and warmly welcome the next Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad, to whom I entrust a stronger and more inclusive secretariat with renewed momentum.”
Yasmine Fouad, who served since 2018 as Egypt’s Environment Minister, brings over 25 years of environmental diplomacy experience at the intersection of climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development, having chaired CBD COP14 and served as Envoy for UNFCCC COP27, leading negotiations on climate finance and nature-based solutions.
Incoming UNCCD Executive Secretary, Yasmine Fouad, said: “I am deeply honored to take up this mantle and thank my predecessor Ibrahim Thiaw for his invaluable contribution to the Convention and broader sustainable development agenda of the United Nations. Building on UNCCD’s 30-year-strong legacy, I will champion integrated solutions across land, climate and biodiversity and committed to build with all parties and stakeholders ambitious comprehensive post-2030 targets.
“Together, the UNCCD will deepen partnerships, amplify voices of the most affected, and drive bold actions to heal our lands, build resilience to droughts, restore our ecosystems and secure people’s futures.”
Shell is highlighting its contributions to the growth of oil industry in Nigeria at an exhibition at the annual international conference of the Nigeria Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) which opened on Monday, August 4, 2025, in Lagos. It comes as Shell received an award for the Bonga North FID at the opening ceremony.
Shell is among more than 60 exhibitors at the conference, with a stand featuring the flagship of its business in Nigeria, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo) as well as Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), All On, an impact investment company that supports improved access to energy in Nigeria, and Daystar Power, which provides integrated solar power to businesses across West Africa.
L-R: Asset Development & Development Subsurface Manager, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Chike Aginah; SNEPCo’s Snr Production Geologist, Abidemi Belgore; Executive Commissioner , Development and Production , Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Engr. Enorense Amadasu; Authority Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Engr. Farouk Ahmed; Society of Petroleum Engineers , Council Chairman, Engr Dr. Amina Danmadami and the Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources, RT Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, during dignitary tour to the Shell booth at the 2025 Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) , an annual event organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council at Eko Hotel
The Minister of State for Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, led dignitaries on a tour of the stand.
“Shell has been powering progress in Nigeria for more than 60 years ago, by pioneering oil and gas production onshore and deep-water and implementing wide-ranging social investments that have improved lives across the country,” Snr Production Geologist, Abidemi Belgore, said as he received the visitors. “We believe in leveraging technology and human resource for a resilient and sustainable energy future, and we are happy to showcase our support for end-to-end energy sustainability.”
SPE recognised Shell for the $5 billion Bonga North FID which was announced late last year. Bonga North currently has an estimated recoverable resource volume of more than 300 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) and will reach a peak production of 110,000 barrels of oil a day. The project is currently being executed.
“We are pleased that our businesses in Nigeria have delivered tangible benefits to the country through the taxes and royalties we pay, the local businesses we support with contract awards and the lives we have touched in social investments ranging from health to education,” Executive Vice President and Country Chair Nigeria, Marno de Jong said in comments on the award. “Shell continues to partner with stakeholders for the development of Nigeria, and the 2025 SPE conference is a good platform to restate our confidence in the future of the country.”
BP has made its largest global oil and gas discovery in 25 years in Brazil’s Santos basin, it said on Monday, August 4, 2025, in what may be a major boost for the British company’s strategic shift away from renewable energy to refocus on fossil fuels.
BP is seeking to bolster oil and gas in its portfolio to regain investor confidence and revive underperforming shares.
BP
It said it planned to create a major new output hub at the Bumerangue discovery in Brazil, which a BP spokesperson said was probably the company’s biggest since Shah Deniz in 1999, a gas and condensate field in the Azeri part of the Caspian Sea.
The announcement comes just months before COP30 is set to begin in the heart of the Amazon in Brazil.
Analysts and media are touting the Bumerangue discovery as a “game changer” as BP seeks to rebuild investor confidence by pivoting back to oil and gas despite its earlier pledges to transition toward renewable energy. This announcement comes on the same day as the conglomerate announced above-target profits, alongside a new cost-cutting scheme to maximise shareholder value.
The timing of the announcement is particularly ironic, as preparations ramp up for COP30 to be held in Brazil. At this crucial moment when observers say countries must commit to new climate targets that accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels, BP is apparently expanding the very industry that’s driving the crisis.
With elevated CO₂ levels already reported in the field, serious concerns are being raised about the economic and environmental viability of the Bumerangue project. But even without those red flags, the simple truth remains: there is no future for fossil fuels, according to climate activists.
Anne Jellema, Executive Director of 350.org, says: “Now that BP has found a new stash of climate-wrecking fossil fuels, they’re preparing to level up their exploitation of the planet’s resources. This is not a game-changer, it’s setting the board on fire. With uncontrolled wildfires, record heatwaves, and steadily rising sea levels, we are already living with the consequences of disasters driven by fossil fuels.
“Millions of people are left holding the bill for the damages, while BP celebrates, once again, short-term profits at the cost of long-term survival. Calling this a breakthrough discovery is a massive betrayal: of people, the ecosystem, and Brazil’s climate commitments. Enough is enough; we must draw a line against this kind of profiteering at the expense of our planet, and fight for a liveable future.”
Ilan Zugman, Latin America Director at 350.org, says: “This is not just about one company, it’s about a system that rewards destruction while frontline communities pay the price. The people of Brazil and the world deserve better than more pipelines and pollution. While preparing to host the global COP30 climate conference,
“Brazil is also advancing a national law that directly contradicts the event’s purpose. This action undermines the country’s credibility and sends a confusing message: a host that preaches climate action while simultaneously easing the path for destructive industries and profit.”
The company gave no reserve estimate for the Brazilian block.
“Brazil is an important country for BP, and our ambition is to explore the potential of establishing a material and advantaged production hub in the country,” said Gordon Birrell, BP’s production and operations chief.
BP shares gained 1.3% by 1107 GMT, outperforming a broader index of European energy companies (.SXEP), opens new tab which was up 0.1%.
“This find may well see BP’s upstream portfolio longevity extending well into the 2030s/40s, and it is this that has been the biggest issue and concern,” Bernstein analyst, Irene Himona, said in a note.
“Although we cannot extrapolate as it is too early, and each well and each reservoir is different, we believe the data … provides support that the potential scale for this 100% BP discovery could be a game changer.”
The Bumerange block is “promising and strategically located” in Santos basin, wrote Jean Paul Prates, former CEO of state-run oil firm Petrobras on social media, while warning that fields with high carbon dioxide (CO2) content in its associated gas can be “uneconomic.”
Associated gas is a byproduct of oil production, found mixed with oil in reservoirs or as a cap above the oil.
“BP has yet to disclose the CO2 level in Bumerangue,” wrote Prates, adding this will “ultimately determine Bumerangue’s viability.”
BP said in its Monday announcement that results from the rig-site analysis indicate elevated levels of CO2.
It did not immediately reply to the questions about economic viability of the field raised by Prates.
BP, which forecast its oil and gas production at 2.3 million to 2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030, said this was its 10th discovery this year, following findings in Trinidad, Egypt, Brazil and others.
The company produced 2.4 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2024 and expects lower production this year.
BP had secured the Bumerangue block in the Santos basin far off the Brazilian coast in a “pre-salt” formation beneath the ocean floor in December 2022 with what it said were “very good commercial terms.”
Fellow London-listed rival Shell this year made a final investment decision for another project in the Santos Basin.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has restated its commitment to driving innovation in oil and gas through emerging technologies and sustainable practices.
Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of NUPRC, said this on Monday, August 4, 2025, in Lagos while delivering a goodwill message at the 48th Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition.
Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of NUPRC
The event was with the theme: “Building a Sustainable Energy Future: Leveraging Technology, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and Policy”.
Komolafe, represented by Mr. Enorense Amadasu, said NUPRC is integrating advanced technologies in exploration and production, including decarbonisation and emission reduction strategies.
He said: “Our role goes beyond regulatory compliance.
“We are committed to a stable and forward-looking upstream sector that balances energy security, environmental responsibility, and economic sustainability.”
According to him, technological transformation is reshaping exploration and production, and the Commission is encouraging both adaptation and approval of innovative solutions.
He added that NUPRC is using technology to enhance internal operations, improve service delivery, and reduce turnaround time.
He said: “These changes are not mere technical upgrades.
“They are part of a broader effort to entrench transparency, promote accountability, and reduce costs to drive industry growth.”
Komolafe said a resilient supply chain is vital for cutting lead times, lowering costs, and boosting national capacity.
He noted that the Commission is fostering a regulatory environment supporting indigenous and international service providers.
“Our approach supports technology domestication, local manufacturing, and stronger supply chain resilience,” he said.
On workforce development, he emphasised that human capital is the industry’s greatest asset.
“We work with academic institutions and training organisations to promote excellence, close skill gaps, and prepare our workforce for a low-carbon future,” he said.
Komolafe urged the Society of Petroleum Engineers and other bodies to support industry transformation through capacity building and youth engagement.
Highlighting progress since the Petroleum Industry Act was enacted in 2021, Komolafe said 21 key regulations have been gazetted so far.
“These regulations give clarity to investors, streamline administration, and align operations with national and global priorities,” he said.
Among them are the Upstream Petroleum Measurement Regulations, which promote accountability through real-time, technology-driven production measurement.
Also included are the Gas Flaring, Venting, and Methane Emissions Regulations, aimed at reducing emissions and embedding sustainability.
Beyond regulations, he said NUPRC is implementing core initiatives to accelerate industry development.
These include a recent stakeholders’ forum to develop strategies for cluster development in shallow and deepwater basins.
“Through collaboration, we aim to unlock stranded or marginal fields via joint development strategies,” he said.
He noted progress with the 1 Million Barrels Per Day Incremental Production Initiative.
He said: “We peaked at 1.8 million barrels daily last month, averaging 1.78 million.
“We are optimising the Maximum Efficient Rate, managing produced water, and coordinating shutdowns to reduce disruptions.”
Komolafe said NUPRC is driving the Upstream Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Blueprint, based on seven pillars to attract investment and maintain competitiveness.
“We urge all operators to embed decarbonisation in field development, facility design, and production activities.
“Achieving a sustainable future requires trade-offs, collaboration, and innovation. NAICE discussions must become measurable outcomes,” he said.
Bayo Ojulari, GCEO, National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited
Also speaking, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, Group CEO of NNPC Limited, urged African nations to own their energy transition using local resources and regional collaboration.
Delivering his keynote address virtually, Ojulari stressed that the energy future is neither linear nor pre-determined.
“It will be shaped by our decisions, investments, and willingness to embrace innovation,” he said.
He warned against adopting externally imposed transition models.
“Africa’s transition must be contextual, just, and negotiated.
“Millions still lack basic energy access. We must ensure energy justice and balance,” he noted.
Ojulari outlined Africa’s challenges – climate change, capital flight, and technology gaps – and called for stronger cross-border cooperation.
He also highlighted innovation as critical to achieving net-zero, citing CCUS, hydrogen, AI exploration, smart grids, and modular gas systems.
“These are not mere buzzwords. They are vital tools for net-zero while ensuring energy access for all,” he said.
To meet rising demand, he said Africa must attract large investments and improve the business climate.
“We must derisk our environment by strengthening governance, honouring contracts, and using blended finance,” he added.
He advocated using hydrocarbons to fund renewables, decarbonisation, and infrastructure.
“Hydrocarbons and technology must coexist to build a modern energy system,” he said.
Ojulari urged more investment in STEM education and youth empowerment.
“The transition is about people, not just fuel. Young people must be ready to lead and innovate.
“This is the moment to act with conviction and purpose,” he said.
Ojulari reaffirmed that NNPC’s mission is to secure a sustainable energy future for generations.
Some experts on Monday, August 4, 2025, expressed concerns on the untapped and underutilised potential of bamboo in Anambra and across the country.
The experts expressed their displeasure at an Investors’ Forum on bamboo value chain development holding in Awka, Anambra State.
Ghanaian bamboo bikes
The forum was organised by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Anambra, Office, in collaboration with Sahelian Institute for Bamboo Research and Entrepreneurship Development (SIBRED).
The forum had the theme: “Strengthening Investment Opportunities in Bamboo Value Chain for Sustainable Industrial Growth and Economic Development in Anambra State.’’
Prof. Muyisa Kazimoto, Vice-Chancellor, Open Learning University, Democratic Republic of Congo, described bamboo as a transformative green resource for Africa’s sustainability agenda.
Kazimoto identified weak policy coordination, lack of processing units, limited innovation and restricted access to finance as some of the key challenges in harnessing the benefits of bamboo resources.
“Africa faces environmental degradation, poverty and youth unemployment. The green economy model emphasises equity, resource efficiency and resilience.
“Green economy also improves human welfare and reduces ecological risks.
“Bamboo emerges as a renewable, fast-growing resource and an investment opportunity as it grows fast and regenerates without replanting.
“I recommend the institutionalisation of bamboo in national development framework, establishment of bamboo clusters and innovation zones.
“We need to mobilise public-private partnerships, integrate bamboo in climate finance systems and support community-driven inclusive bamboo enterprises, “Kazimoto said.
In his address, Prof. Nnayelugo Ike-Muonso, Director-General, RMRDC, said that the bamboo value chain holds significant potential for economic growth, job creation and environmental sustainability.
“Valuable resource of bamboo is highly underutilised in Nigeria.
“Developing the bamboo value chain can contribute to Nigeria’s green economy, reduce deforestation and provide raw materials for various industries.
“We must explore new investment models, modern processing technologies and value addition opportunities,” he said.
Mrs. Diana Doheny, Co-founder, Afroforestry Impact and Regeneration, USA, said that the global market for bamboo was estimated at $67.13 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $90 billion by 2030.
Doheny stated that China produces more than 60 per cent of the world’s bamboo and exports bamboo and bamboo-based products to more than 100 countries worldwide.
According to her, the 2024 global market estimate for bamboo is $67.13 billion, which is projected market $90 billion by 2030.
“Global market for bamboo furniture is projected to exceed $10 billion by 2026.
“China remains the largest producer and exporter. Already, we see uses of bamboo in structural timbers for commercial and residential construction.
“Bamboo can also potentially be used as a structural additive to cement,” she said.
In his remarks, Dr John Ogbodo, Director, SIBRED, harped on the need to pay close attention to the benefits of bamboo resources.
Ogbodo said that Nigeria, the second-largest bamboo-producing country in West Africa, lacks an operational national bamboo policy, as well as regulations and standards for establishing plantations.
“There is no single state in Nigeria that currently has at least, one hectare of planted bamboo forest.
“No known government owned bamboo forest nursery with at least, 1,000 bamboo seedlings anywhere in Nigeria.
“I hope that this forum will motivate investment in bamboo value chain development in Anambra and Nigeria at large.”
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr Ekperikpe Ekpo, has reiterated plans to expand the use of cleaner cooking gas in rural Nigerian communities.
Ekpo made this known on Monday, August 4, in Lagos during the opening of the 48th Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) 2025.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr Ekperikpe Ekpo, with other delegates at the opening of NAICE 2025 in Lagos
The conference is with the theme: “Building a Sustainable Energy Future: Leveraging Technology, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Policy”.
He said the government’s LPG Penetration Programme would distribute cylinders nationwide, empowering women and youth to promote clean cooking in rural areas.
Ekpo reaffirmed the government’s target to transition five million homes to clean cooking by 2030.
“We have expanded gas supply for industries, prioritising manufacturing hubs, power generation, and industrial corridors,” he added.
He assured that all gas off-takers currently receive the volume required for their industrial processes.
Ekpo also highlighted achievements and ongoing projects, including growing investment in gas infrastructure such as the OB3 and AKK pipelines.
He listed modular and scalable gas projects like mini-LNG and CNG stations, aimed at boosting last-mile access and local economies.
Job creation is also being facilitated through public-private partnerships in construction, logistics, and retail within the gas value chain.
Ekpo praised NAICE for evolving into a leading platform for technical dialogue and energy policy development in Nigeria.
He said the theme aligns with the government’s push for a sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready energy sector.
“We are at a defining moment in the global energy transition,” Ekpo noted.
He stressed the challenge of balancing energy security and climate goals, particularly for countries like Nigeria.
“It calls for innovation, bold policy, and strategic investment,” he said.
Ekpo commended President Bola Tinubu’s focus on gas as central to Nigeria’s energy transformation strategy.
He said the phrase “From Gas to Prosperity” reflects the national ambition for gas-fuelled industrialisation and job creation.
He added that gas would also drive wider access to clean and affordable energy across the country.
Ekpo noted the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has provided a firm regulatory and fiscal base for progress.
The government, he said, is also pushing market-reflective pricing, deepwater development, and domestic supply obligations.
He stressed that collaboration is vital in achieving Nigeria’s energy vision and a sustainable energy future.
“Government alone can’t do this. We need professionals, private enterprise, youth innovation, and global partnerships,” he said.
He commended the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council for sustaining the NAICE platform.
“Your work is shaping the future of the energy industry and our nation,” Ekpo said.
He urged them to keep sharing knowledge, pushing boundaries, and developing practical solutions.
“Together, we can build a gas-powered energy future of inclusiveness, prosperity, and sustainability,” he added.
In his remarks, Lagos Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the conference theme as timely and forward-looking.
He was represented by Mr. Abiodun Ogunleye, Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Lagos State.
Sanwo-Olu acknowledged that while oil and gas remain key, the future must be sustainable and innovation-driven.
He said Lagos is promoting clean energy, investing in human capital, and improving infrastructure for upstream and downstream operations.
He reaffirmed the state’s support for inclusive, sustainable energy initiatives and environmental responsibility.
The governor thanked SPE Nigeria Council for choosing Lagos to host the conference.
“We are proud to support this progressive conversation and welcome its transformative outcomes,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also noted state efforts in creating an investor-friendly climate for the oil and gas industry.
He cited the Lekki Free Zone and Deep Sea Port as strategic petroleum logistics and supply chain enablers.
He mentioned Lagos’ Electricity Policy and private-sector partnerships to promote off-grid and clean energy solutions.
“These measures help bridge the energy access gap and boost socio-economic development,” he said.
The conference drew about 2,000 participants and 70 exhibitors.
