The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to adopt a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to detect meter bypass, tampering and other electricity theft.
The directive is contained in Order No. NERC/2014/148, published on the commission’s website in Abuja on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
The order outlines investigative and enforcement procedures DisCos must follow when suspicious electricity consumption patterns or billing irregularities are detected.
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)
According to the commission, distribution companies must interview witnesses, residents or local authorities and properly document all interviews conducted.
“DisCos shall interview witnesses, residents, or local authorities to gather information on unauthorised access or suspicious activities and document all interviews conducted,” the order stated.
NERC also directed companies to employ advanced technologies, including advanced metering infrastructure, data analytics and monitoring systems, to detect abnormal consumption patterns.
The commission said distribution companies must ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements during inspections and evidence gathering.
According to NERC, the procedure aims to strengthen oversight in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry and protect infrastructure from losses caused by unauthorised network access.
“Distribution companies are required to first identify locations where electricity theft may be occurring by analysing consumption data, billing discrepancies and unusual indicators,” it said.
The order explained that flagged locations must undergo detailed reviews of electricity usage records to determine possible meter manipulation or illegal connections.
“The SOP also mandates surveillance and monitoring activities in suspected locations to gather additional evidence.
“These may include field observations and tracking unusual activities that could indicate unlawful access to electricity infrastructure,” it said.
The directive also requires physical inspections of electricity meters in affected areas to detect tampering, illegal bypasses or unauthorised alterations.
Where meters are suspected to be compromised, integrity tests must be conducted and documented through photographs and video recordings in the customer’s presence.
“Inspection teams are also expected to examine power lines, transformers and distribution boxes to uncover illegal connections or interference with the electricity network,” NERC said.
Investigators may gather additional information through interviews with residents, community members and local authorities where necessary.
To strengthen detection, NERC encouraged the use of advanced metering infrastructure, monitoring systems and data analytics to identify abnormal electricity consumption.
The order requires detailed documentation of investigations, including meter test results, photographs, video recordings and witness statements.
Where meter tampering or illegal electricity access is confirmed, affected customers will receive a formal disconnection notice.
Power supply to such premises may subsequently be disconnected in accordance with regulatory procedures.
The commission added that offenders would face penalties under existing laws, while DisCos are expected to collaborate with law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution.
The Peoples Right Agenda (PRA), a civic advocacy organisation committed to transparency, accountability, and good governance, has raised serious concerns over an alleged coordinated plan to undermine electricity supply in Ibadan and its surrounding communities. The group warned that the scheme is reportedly designed to discredit the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, for narrow political purposes.
PRA acknowledged that the power sector in Nigeria remains one of the nation’s most complex and historically challenged sectors. However, the organisation commended the Minister for pursuing bold and far-reaching reforms across generation, transmission, and distribution chains.
Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu
Despite decades of structural dysfunction, the current administration has initiated transformative policies that are gradually revitalising the sector and attracting renewed interest from both local and international investors, as well as proactive sub-national actors.
While the pace of progress may appear gradual, PRA stressed that measurable indicators clearly show that the reforms are beginning to yield positive results.
In a statement issued in Ibadan and jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Tunde Olaoshebikan, and Secretary, Isaac Olatona, the group disclosed that credible intelligence points to deliberate efforts by certain political interests to destabilise electricity supply in Oyo State.
According to PRA, the objective is to foment public dissatisfaction ahead of the 2027 general elections. Since the Minister visited the IBEDC office to issue a warning to them on the need to sit up and improve on their service delivery to the people, electricity supply has become regular in most areas that had experienced epileptic supply in the past weeks. This is quite unfortunate and only revealed that we the people are our own enemies. It’s ungodly to deliberately sabotage the efforts of a hardworking Minister for political gains.
The group recalled that, throughout most of last year, residents and businesses in Ibadan experienced noticeable improvements in power supply. Major commercial and industrial zones reportedly enjoyed longer hours of electricity, while several manufacturing clusters benefited from more predictable service that enhanced productivity.
“These gains were not incidental,” the statement noted. “They were the outcome of coordinated interventions by the Federal Ministry of Power, working closely with sector stakeholders to resolve technical bottlenecks, stabilise supply, and strengthen distribution efficiency.”
PRA emphasised that although systemic challenges persist within the national grid and distribution networks, the relative stability recorded in Ibadan was widely recognised by traders, artisans, small-scale entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
However, the organisation expressed deep concern that as political activities intensify toward 2027, public utilities – especially electricity – are being targeted as tools of propaganda and manipulation.
“It is deeply instructive,” the statement asserted, “that just as political calculations begin to dominate public discourse, coordinated disruptions appear to be emerging to reverse the modest but significant gains achieved in recent months. The apparent aim is to provoke public anger and unjustly place the blame on the Honourable Minister.”
PRA described any attempt to weaponise electricity supply as “anti-people and morally indefensible,” stressing that power is central to economic survival, social stability, and national development.
The group reiterated that under Adelabu’s leadership, the Ministry has consistently pursued sustainable reforms through grid upgrades, stakeholder engagement, and policy realignments intended to improve service delivery nationwide.
According to PRA, any deliberate effort to destabilise supply in a major urban centre like Ibadan not only seeks to damage the Minister’s reputation but also inflicts direct hardship on ordinary citizens – market women, welders, tailors, students, artisans, and small-scale manufacturers whose livelihoods depend on reliable electricity.
“The people must remain vigilant and ask critical questions,” the statement added. “Who stands to benefit from sudden and unexplained disruptions after months of relative stability? Why now, at a time when political ambitions are becoming more visible?”
The organisation therefore called on relevant security agencies, regulators, and oversight institutions to intensify surveillance and monitoring within the power value chain in Oyo State. PRA urged them to ensure that no individual or group is allowed to sabotage infrastructure or manipulate supply patterns for partisan advantage.
While recognising that the power sector is shaped by multiple interdependent factors – including generation capacity, gas supply, transmission limitations, and distribution constraints – the group insisted that public discourse must be grounded in facts rather than politically motivated distortions.
“As the nation approaches another election cycle, Nigerians must resist attempts to manufacture crises for electoral gain,” PRA concluded. “Electricity is a public good, not a political weapon. It must never be sacrificed on the altar of ambition.”
The organisation urged all stakeholders to remain resolute in defending recent gains and to work collectively toward consolidating progress, warning that political rivalries must not be allowed to reverse hard-won improvements in the power sector.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by two environmental rights advocacy organisations, EnviroNews Advocacy and Campaigns for Sustainability (Endvocas) and the Abundance of Hope Initiative (AHI), to promote sustainability, waste management, afforestation, and environmental education in universities across Nigeria.
Titled “Planting for the Plant” and commencing its implementation at the Federal University Lafia (FULAFIA), this project aims to plant one million trees across the entire school, establish a permanent eco-resource hub, engage students as leaders in environmental stewardship, and introduce innovative waste-to-impact solutions.
L-R: 3rd, Mr Michael Simire, Executive Director of EnviroNews Advocacy and Campaigns for Sustainability (Endvocas); 4th, Ambassador Taiye Sasona, Executive Director of Abundance of Hope Initiative (AHI); and representatives from both organisations during the signing of the agreement in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria
This initiative will strengthen Fulafia’s reputation as a model green university in Nigeria, enhance research opportunities, and create a healthier campus environment, AHI Executive Director, Ambassador Taiye Sasona, said at the historic endorsement parley held in Abuja on Thursday, March 4, 2026.
“We are excited to announce a strategic partnership between Abundance of Hope Initiative (AHI) and EnviroNews Advocacy and Campaigns for Sustainability (Endvocas) to advance environmental sustainability and community development,” Sasona added.
This collaboration, he elaborated, focuses on capacity-building training, environmental education, and advocacy, empowering communities with the knowledge and skills needed to address climate change, promote environmental protection, and support sustainable development.
“Together, we aim to raise awareness, strengthen community engagement, and inspire collective action toward a greener and more sustainable future,” the AHI boss concluded.
According to Mr. Michael Simire, Executive Director of Endvocas, the collaboration demonstrates the two groups’ dedication to promoting environmental sustainability.
He assured that his establishment will do its best to fulfil its part in the agreement, which is to assist in improving the capacity of the targeted audiences, as well as to ensure that the initiative is widely promoted in order to draw the necessary public support and achieve its intended goal.
As part of the agreement, the two organisations have agreed to form a joint board to expedite conservation among themselves and discuss the most effective tactics to use in their quest to carry out this admirable endeavour.
The Anambra State Government says it has recovered a substantial number of oil wells belonging to the state which were previously attributed to Delta State.
Mr. Charles Ofoegbu, Managing Director of the Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company and Chairman of Anambra State Petroleum Energy Resources Limited, disclosed this in Awka, the state capital, while briefing journalists on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
Ofoegbu said the development followed a verification conducted by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission on oil wells located around the Anambra River Basin.
Gov. Charles Soludo of Anambra State
He noted that once the commission’s report was approved, the state would begin to receive additional revenue from oil wells located along the maritime boundary between Anambra State and Delta State.
“Anambra was fully admitted into the list of Nigeria’s oil-producing states in 2025 with an initial production output of about 3,000 barrels per day.
“Some oil wells belonging to the state had previously been subject to boundary disputes with neighbouring states, particularly Delta,” he said.
Ofoegbu also said the state government was collaborating with foreign investors to establish a modular refinery in Osamala in Ogbaru Local Government Area.
“This modular refinery will produce petroleum and diesel to serve Anambra and neighbouring states, thereby generating huge revenue for the state,” he said.
The official added that the government was working to recover additional oil wells currently claimed by Imo State, Rivers State and Enugu State due to boundary issues.
He noted that the recovery would increase the state’s 13 per cent oil derivation from the Federal Government.
Ofoegbu further disclosed that the agency was opening a kaolin mining site at Ukpor to boost the state’s revenue profile.
According to him, the government is also working towards establishing a bentonite processing plant at Achalagu, Nteje, with raw materials sourced from Umuchu and Ufuma.
Ofoegbu said the revenue generated from the oil sector had contributed to the performance of the state administration under Gov. Chukwuma Soludo across several sectors, including the development of the Solution Fun City.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has reassured Nigerians of its unwavering commitment to serving as a stabilising force amid recent shocks in the international oil market.
The conflict in the Middle East has led to the shutdown of some refineries and cut in refinery production across the world, which is leading to a global scarcity of petroleum products. China has reportedly banned export of gasoline and diesel.
The Dangote Refinery says it will ensure that Nigeria is insulated from these supply shocks by prioritising supply to the domestic market. It adds that this is one of the many benefits of domestic refining.
Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals
The conflict has driven global crude and freight prices sharply higher, with benchmark Brent prices rising by about 26% within a short period to above $84.0 per barrel. In response, the refinery said it implemented a measured adjustment of N100 per litre in its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, representing an increase of about 12%.
The refinery disclosed that it has absorbed 20% of the cost escalation, for now, to cushion the domestic market. “This is despite continuing to source crude at prevailing international market prices, whether purchased locally or from foreign suppliers.”
“It is worth noting that Nigerian crude oil is more expensive than the Brent benchmark price by $3 to $6 per barrel. After adding freight of $3.50 per barrel, crude oil will be landing in our tanks between $88 and $91 per barrel. For context, crude oil was landing our tanks at about $68 per barrel when our ex-depot price was N774/litre.
“Furthermore, while we receive about five cargoes a month from NNPC which we pay for in Naira, these cargoes are priced at international market prices + Premium and fall short of the 13 cargoes which we require to support sales into Nigeria. We therefore, end up procuring foreign exchange at open market rates to pay for crude cargoes purchased from local and international traders.”
According to Dangote Refinery, the high crude cost is compounded by the fact that Nigeria upstream producers have failed to supply crude oil to the refinery as required under the PIA, forcing the organisation to source a substantial portion through international traders who charge an additional premium.
“As a private enterprise operating in a deregulated environment, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has remained responsive and has made significant sacrifices by aligning pricing with market realities to ensure sustainability, particularly as it sources all its crude at prevailing international market prices, whether locally or from foreign suppliers. Selling below cost would undermine its ability to procure crude, sustain production and guarantee uninterrupted supply to Nigerians.
“Despite these pressures, local refining at this scale continues to reduce exposure to international supply disruptions, moderate foreign exchange demand and protect the country from severe shortages during periods of global instability.
“The refinery is also accelerating deployment of Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks to cushion the impact of global shocks, enhance nationwide distribution efficiency, reduce logistics costs and improve delivery timelines across the downstream sector. The rollout is scheduled to commence this month.
“We remain committed to transparency, operational excellence and the long-term objective of securing sustainable energy security and stability for Nigeria at an affordable cost,” submitted Dangote Refinery.
African universities and regional experts are working with Wellcome to establish new science and policy consortiums that will address the escalating public health crisis driven by climate change – saving lives and livelihoods.
Wellcome will provide an initial £40 million for two new consortiums in Southern and West Africa, with a further £20 million earmarked to set up a third consortium in Eastern Africa.
The first two regional consortiums will be led by the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Scientists, policy makers and community partners will join forces to co-develop evidence-based solutions that reflect local priorities and translate rapidly into policy and practice.
The first two regional consortiums will be led by the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana
The Southern Africa consortium will prioritise solutions that address the health and economic impacts of heatwaves and floods as well as develop high-quality data to support evidence informed action. In Western Africa, the consortium will focus on the impact of heatwaves, dust storms and drought on people’s health and nutrition to develop effective policies that also take into consideration the economic costs and benefits.
Africa is at the frontline of a rapidly warming world. Rising temperatures are driving deadly heatwaves, air pollution, worsening nutrition, and new threats to maternal and newborn health. Extreme weather events fuelled by climate change are disrupting food and water supplies and straining health systems, with marginalized communities facing the greatest burden.
Professor Charlotte Watts, Executive Director, Solutions at Wellcome, said: “Africa is on the frontline of climate change, with women and marginalised communities already suffering the worst health impacts. By supporting African science and leadership, these new consortiums will generate the evidence and locally led solutions needed to improve health and save lives – now and in the future.”
The new consortiums will strengthen scientific expertise, support innovative solutions and provide context-specific evidence to inform policies and action across Africa. Their priorities are based on pan-African frameworks and co-designed with regional partners over the past two years with a focus on health and science equity.
Dr Modi Mwatsama, Head of Capacity and Field Development at Wellcome, says: “We want to help build healthier futures for everyone, and that includes ensuring African communities have access to the data, resources and expertise they need to address the climate and health challenges ahead.
“Wellcome is committed to working with partners in Africa who are best placed to develop the regional-specific evidence that supports decision-makers and community action. Both the accelerating crisis in Africa and the capacity for new knowledge, leadership and innovation means that the consortiums have huge potential to improve health and save lives.”
Professor Matthew Chersich, University of the Witwatersrand and Southern Africa consortium lead, says: “Southern Africa faces increasingly severe extreme heat and precipitation events with large numbers of highly vulnerable people, from both socioeconomic and health perspectives. The new consortium aims to overcome the knowledge, policy and financial barriers that constrain progress with care and support services for affected communities. Using a transdisciplinary and multisectoral approach, we will address extreme heat in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and flooding in Malawi, with a focus on delivering solutions that prioritise pregnant women, children, older people and those with chronic conditions.
“We will quantify, track and cost climate-health impacts; test adaptation innovations, including anticipatory cash transfers, support for mental health resilience and complex cooling interventions; and drive step-changes in regional stakeholder coordination and policies to improve health and save lives. But, equally importantly, we will apply traditional public health measures to reducing carbon emissions, pioneering health-centred approaches to mitigation.”
Professor Philip Antwi-Agyei, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana and Western Africa consortium, lead says: “Climate change is an escalating threat to global health and West Africa is among the most vulnerable regions due to high exposure to climate hazards, low adaptive capacity, and fragile health systems. Intensifying climate-related health risks are compounding existing inequities, straining public health systems, undermining food security and disrupting livelihoods, with GDP losses projected to rise significantly across the region.
“The current uncoordinated context-specific policies and systems pose a huge challenge in addressing the risks associated with climate change and health – particularly in respect to heatwaves, dust storms, and droughts on food systems and other health determinants in Ghana and Senegal. The Western Africa consortium based in Ghana will establish a regional approach that brings together physical and social sciences, policy and practice to ensure that evidence is readily translated into tangible actions to benefit people’s health and livelihoods.”
Dr. Adelheid Onyango, Director of the Universal Health Coverage/Healthier Populations Cluster at the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa, said: “Health leaders across Africa make vital decisions with limited resources, so having access to rigorous, context‑relevant evidence is essential. It ensures every investment backs interventions that truly work. These new consortiums will hopefully fill a critical gap in the climate and health field and will be an invaluable resource to WHO AFRO and decision‑makers across the region.”
Philip Kilonzo, Head of Policy, Advocacy and Communication at the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, said: “At a time when climate deniers are slowing global action, scientific evidence serves to humanise the cause for climate justice. PACJA applauds the Science and Policy consortiums as they are strategically poised to provide evidence to leapfrog advocacy on climate justice and strengthen resilience in health sector. We appreciate Wellcome Trust for this visionary investment in climate action that will build much stronger fortress of evidence, the world urgently needs.”
The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) has trained 40 teachers in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) as part of its plan to promote climate change literacy in secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Speaking at a workshop held in Abuja for secondary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by the SPP in collaboration with the Secondary Education Board (SEB), SPP President, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, stated that the workshop was based on a handbook that his organisation developed in 2025 to help teachers in instructing their students and enabling them to form climate clubs in all of their schools.
Participants at the workshop for secondary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) held in Abuja by the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) in partnership with the Secondary Education Board (SEB).
While this exercise focuses on AMAC teachers, the SPP chief went on to explain that the project’s overall scope extends throughout the FCT.
“We are training all the teachers in Abuja and all of the FCT, but today we are starting in AMAC,” Prof. Okereke emphasised.
He hinted that the SPP was working with the Ministry of Environment’s Department of Climate Change (DCC) and the FCT SEB to raise environmental awareness, encourage young people to adopt sustainable behaviours, and address the dearth of comprehensive climate education in schools.
In a similar vein, Mr Abdullahi Zakir, the Director of Science, Technology, and Mathematics at FCT SEB, praised the event as a valuable opportunity to enhance the ability of “our teachers to understand and teach one of the most critical issues of our time – climate change.”
Zakir recalled the various hazards of climate change, including rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, flooding, and environmental degradation, and how they impact learning in schools throughout Nigeria, especially in the FCT.
“These changes,” he lamented, “directly affect our schools, our communities, and the future of our children.”
Because the knowledge and awareness they impart to their students will impact how the next generation views environmental responsibility, sustainability, and innovation, he urged educators to be aware that they are moulders of the mind and values in addition to teaching the curriculum.
“When students understand the science behind climate change and the role they can play in protecting the environment we nurture, they become responsible leaders and innovators in the future,” he asserts.
Mr. Williams Eba, Vice Principal of Academics at Government Secondary School in Tundun Wada, Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja, was another speaker at the event. He said that the training has made his school aware of some of the ecological issues and how to address them in order to maintain a sustainable environment.
China has released its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) during the country’s annual “Two Sessions” meetings, setting out economic and industrial priorities for the next five years. The plan confirms continued expansion of renewable energy and a carbon-intensity reduction target of 17%, notably lower than the previous carbon intensity target.
It however stops short of outlining the structural changes needed to put China firmly on a path toward declining emissions this decade, referring to peak instead of previous language to phase down coal.
The announcement comes as the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People’s Congress (NPC) meet in Beijing, gatherings that traditionally set the direction for major policy priorities, including energy and climate strategy. Recent approvals of new coal power capacity, the highest in nearly a decade, highlight the gap between China’s strategic ambition and near-term implementation, a gap the 15th Five-Year Plan does not sufficiently address.
President Xi Jinping addressing the leaders’ summit of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity via a video link
The plan was widely expected to mark a clearer transition from carbon-intensity targets toward absolute emissions reductions, following China’s pledge to peak emissions before 2030. Instead, it leaves significant ambiguity about how China will translate record renewable deployment into sustained emissions cuts, particularly as coal approvals have surged to their highest level in nearly a decade.
With China responsible for roughly one-third of global emissions, it is believed that the direction set in the plan will have major implications for the world’s ability to limit warming.
Andreas Sieber, Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns at 350.org, said: “China has built more renewable energy than the rest of the world combined, but this plan still does not clearly translate that progress into a fast enough structural and deep decline in emissions. This is insufficient progress.
“Expanding wind and solar at record speed is a huge achievement, but it must now be matched with a decisive phase-down of coal and a clear pathway to absolute emissions reductions. People want clean air, stable energy prices and climate security. China’s next development phase must deliver more than clean energy growth; it must end fossil fuel expansion.”
350.org said the scale of China’s renewable rollout demonstrates that the energy transition is technologically and economically achievable but warned that continued coal expansion risks undermining global climate goals.
In September 2024, President Xi Jinping announced China’s climate target under the Paris Agreement, its Nationally Determined Contribution with binding economy-wide emission reduction target of 7-10% by 2035 from peak levels, “striving to do better
This target was widely viewed as insufficient. According to UNEP analysis, China could reduce emissions by at least 28-37% by 2035.
Year 2025 has marked a turning point: Chinese emissions have flatlined or fallen since March 2024, nearly two consecutive years, with a likely 0.3% decline in 2025, marking the first sustained stabilisation and slight fall – hence 2025 is likely to serve as the base year for Chinese emission reduction target.
However, China would be on track to glaringly miss its carbon intensity targets if it were not for revising the definition of carbon intensity to include industrial process emissions.
With estimated emissions of 15.8 Gt CO₂e in 2024, China stands as the world’s largest emitter, accounting for roughly 32% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), together with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, congratulated Chile for becoming the first country in the Americas – and the second globally – to be officially verified as having eliminated leprosy disease.
Leprosy (Hansen disease) was historically recorded in Chile at the end of the 19th century on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). The disease was limited in mainland Chile, with sporadic introductions, contained through isolation and treatment measures in the Island, where the last secondary cases were managed by the late 1990s.
Ximena Aguilera, Chile’s Minister of Health
Since then, Chile has not reported any locally acquired case of leprosy for more than 30 years, with the last locally acquired case detected in 1993. However, the disease was never removed from the country’s public health agenda; it has remained a notifiable condition, monitored through mandatory reporting, integrated surveillance, and continuous clinical readiness across the health system.
“This landmark public health achievement is a powerful testament to what leadership, science, and solidarity can accomplish,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Chile’s elimination of leprosy sends a clear message to the world: with sustained commitment, inclusive health services, integrated public health strategies, early detection and universal access to care, we can consign ancient diseases to history.”
The verification recognises more than three decades of sustained public health action, robust surveillance, long-term political commitment, and a health system that has remained vigilant even in the absence of local transmission.
“Chile’s achievement demonstrates that eliminating leprosy is achievable and requires building strong systems that can detect, respond to, and provide comprehensive care for people affected by the disease, including those living with chronic disabilities,” said PAHO Director, Dr Jarbas Barbosa. “Being the first country in the Americas to be confirmed as eliminating leprosy sends a powerful message to the Region – that diseases strongly linked to groups living in vulnerable conditions can be eliminated, contributing to interrupt the vicious circle between disease and poverty.”
At the request of Chile’s Ministry of Health, PAHO and WHO convened an independent expert panel in 2025 to assess whether elimination had been achieved and could be sustained over time. The panel conducted a thorough assessment, reviewing epidemiological data, surveillance mechanisms, case management protocols, and sustainability plans. Its findings confirmed the absence of local transmission and validated Chile’s capacity to detect and respond to future cases occurring among the non-autochthonous population.
“This is very good news and a source of great pride for our country. Chile has received verification of the elimination of leprosy disease, becoming the first country in the Americas and the second globally to achieve this recognition,” said Ximena Aguilera, Chile’s Minister of Health.
“This milestone reflects decades of sustained public health efforts, including prevention strategies, early diagnosis, effective treatment, continuous follow-up, and the commitment of health teams across the country. It also reaffirms our responsibility to maintain active surveillance and ensure respectful, stigma-free care for all,” added Aguilera.
Sustained training, surveillance and holistic care in a low-incidence setting
Between 2012 and 2023, Chile reported 47 cases nationwide, none of which were locally acquired.
Chile’s integrated model ensures early detection and comprehensive care: primary care centers serve as the entry point for suspected cases, with timely referrals to specialised dermatology services for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Clinicians receive training aligned with WHO’s Towards zero leprosy strategy. The system prioritises early intervention, disability prevention, and holistic care, including physiotherapy and rehabilitation services, ensuring that anyone affected by leprosy receives continuous support for both acute and long-term health needs to promote full recovery and social inclusion.
A milestone for the Region of the Americas
Chile’s accomplishment paves the way for other nations, illustrating the impact of political will, cross-sector collaboration, and adaptive planning in low-incidence settings.
Since 1995, PAHO, in coordination with WHO, has provided multidrug therapy (MDT) free of charge to countries in the Americas, including Chile. This uninterrupted access to treatment, combined with national supply systems, has been essential to curing patients, preventing disability, and interrupting transmission.
PAHO has also supported Chile in aligning surveillance with international standards, strengthening laboratory capacity, and maintaining clinical expertise in a low-incidence context, where many health professionals may never encounter a case during their careers.
Ensuring access and coverage for everyone
Chile’s elimination of leprosy has been achieved within a broader legal and social framework that protects human rights, promotes inclusion, and prevents discrimination. National legislation guarantees equal access to health care, social protection, and disability services, ensuring that people affected by leprosy receive care without stigma or exclusion.
Chile’s mixed public–private health system, with strong regulatory oversight, further strengthens equitable access, including for migrants and other vulnerable populations.
Sustaining elimination
Aligned with WHO’s Towards zero leprosy strategy and PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative, Chile’s experience demonstrates that elimination is not defined solely by the absence of disease, but by a sustained health system capable of detecting, responding to, and providing holistic care whenever a case appears.
Moving into the post-elimination phase, Chile is encouraged to continue reporting to WHO, maintain sensitive surveillance, and ensure that clinical expertise is retained for future sporadic cases as well as any cases acquired outside the country. The verification panel also recommended formally designating a referral centre and leveraging WHO Academy’s online training for health workers and staff, strengthening long-term capacity and preparedness.
The global generation of waste is escalating at an unprecedented rate, driven by rapid urbanisation, population growth, and shifting consumption patterns. Worldwide, waste production was estimated at approximately 2.0 billion metric tonnes in 2016 and is projected to reach 3.4 billion metric tonnes annually by 2050.
In Nigeria alone, approximately 25 million tonnes of waste are generated in cities each year, a figure expected to double by 2040 as urban centres continue to expand. This trajectory presents a formidable governance and environmental challenge, particularly in secondary cities where institutional capacity often lags behind demographic pressure.
Heaps of refuse in Akure, Ondo State
Waste management in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, represents a significant environmental and public health challenge. As with many Nigerian urban centres, Akure is characterised by a heterogeneous waste stream, inadequate collection infrastructure, and limited regulatory enforcement, conditions that engender widespread indiscriminate waste disposal.
The consequences extend beyond visual blight: improper waste management has been scientifically linked to the proliferation of infectious disease vectors, deterioration of ambient air quality, contamination of surface and groundwater resources, and the emission of climate-forcing greenhouse gases.
Scale of the Problem
The waste stream in Akure is generated from a diverse array of sources, including residential households, commercial establishments, markets, educational institutions, and places of worship such as churches, mosques, and traditional ceremonial centres. This heterogeneity produces a complex mixture of materials: biodegradable organic matter, non-biodegradable synthetic polymers (polythene and plastic packaging), metals, paper, wood, and agricultural residues.
Comparatively, Studies in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, found that over 50% of waste arriving at disposal facilities comprised recyclable materials such as plastics, metals, and paper, while organic waste constituted more than 30%. The per capita waste generation rate in that study was measured at 1.34 kg/person/day, nearly double estimates published a decade earlier, a trend attributed to urban population growth and increasing consumption of manufactured goods.
These figures are consistent with patterns documented across south-western Nigerian cities. Research on market waste in Ibadan, Oyo State, found that over 68% of market-generated waste comprised easily decomposable organic matter, with significant quantities of volatile solids and total phosphorus, indicating high nutrient leaching potential if left untreated.
In Akure, field observations confirm that biodegradable waste constitutes the dominant fraction of the waste stream. However, the non-biodegradable components particularly polythene materials and synthetic packaging are of serious environmental concern due to their persistence in the environment and their contribution to drainage blockage, soil degradation, and ecotoxicological hazards.
Disposal Practices
The methods of disposal are often unsanitary and unlawful which deviate from environmentally sound management protocols. Rather than utilising government-approved receptacles or scheduled collection points, a significant proportion of residents resort to indiscriminate dumping along roadsides, open burning in vacant plots and residential compounds, and disposal into drainage channels and watercourses.
Available data suggest that fewer than 10% of residents in certain wards of Akure employ government-approved waste bins for primary disposal which is a figure consistent with national statistics indicating that between 9% and 12% of total waste generated in Nigeria is properly recycled or incinerated.
A contributing structural factor is the irregular and unreliable service delivery by official waste management agencies. The absence of a consistent and adequate number of collection bins in markets and residential neighbourhoods, coupled with unpredictable collection schedules, compels traders and households to manage waste informally. This dynamic is not unique to Akure; similar governance-driven lapses in service delivery have been documented in urban centres across Nigeria, including Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and Maiduguri.
Public Health Implications of Improper Waste Disposal
The public health consequences of inadequate waste management systems in Akure are both immediate and far-reaching. Uncollected waste accumulations, particularly in institutional settings such as schools and markets create ideal microhabitats for disease vectors including Anopheles mosquitoes (malaria), Periplaneta cockroaches, and murid rodents (Salmonella, Leptospira).
The standing water that pools in open dumpsites, particularly within and around non-biodegradable containers such as tyres, tins, and polythene bags, provides optimal breeding conditions for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a primary vector for dengue fever and yellow fever.
Furthermore, the decomposition of organic waste in open dumpsites generates metabolic heat, contributing to documented localised increases in surface and ambient air temperatures in the immediate vicinity of waste accumulations. This thermal anomaly has implications for urban heat island dynamics and may exacerbate thermal stress on proximate communities.
Environmental and Health Consequences of Open Waste Burning
Open waste burning is a widespread informal disposal practice in Akure which constitutes a particularly acute environmental hazard. The combustion of heterogeneous solid waste is thermodynamically inefficient, characterised by low combustion temperatures and restricted oxygen supply. As a result, incomplete combustion generates a broad spectrum of toxic air pollutants including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F), heavy metals, and black carbon (BC).
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has explicitly identified open waste burning as a major source of ambient air pollution, with documented exposure pathways including respiratory disease, skin irritation, immunological impairment, and cardiovascular conditions.
In Nigeria, research by Oguntoke and colleagues has measured ambient chemical species consistent with open burning of solid waste, confirming that this practice materially degrades urban air quality. The burning of plastic-containing waste is of particular toxicological concern, as plastics are the primary source of dioxin and halogenated compound emissions during incomplete combustion.
The cumulative atmospheric burden from routine small-scale burning events may be ecologically significant at the city scale, particularly in densely settled neighbourhoods with limited ventilation.
Systemic and Governance Failures
The persistence of inadequate waste management in Akure is not solely a function of resident behaviour but reflects deeper systemic and institutional failures. ZL Global Alliance, a firm contracted by the Ondo State Government for public waste collection and disposal, has publicly identified the non-enforcement of extant sanitation legislation as the primary structural obstacle to effective waste management in the state capital. The failure to arrest, prosecute, or impose financial penalties on individuals and entities found disposing of waste indiscriminately undermines the deterrent effect of environmental regulations and sustains a culture of non-compliance.
This enforcement gap is consistent with findings from research done on Nigerian waste management systems. Ugwuanyi and Isife identified the paucity of enforceable legal frameworks as a systemic driver of waste management failure across Nigerian urban centres.
Compounding the enforcement deficit is the declining operational capacity of private sector participants (PSPs) in Akure’s waste collection ecosystem. Although multiple PSPs were initially licensed to provide residential and commercial waste collection services, their numbers have significantly diminished due to inadequate capitalisation, specifically, an insufficient fleet of suitable trucks and compactors to service growing collection routes. This withdrawal of private sector actors has created critical gaps in service delivery, particularly in peripheral and low-income residential areas.
Recommendations and Conclusion
To address these multifaceted challenges, researchers and practitioners have proposed several measures. These include intensifying public enlightenment campaigns on the dangers of improper waste disposal, government need to make appropriate waste disposal means more available to residents, such as providing sufficient disposal bins in markets and residential areas, employing additional waste management personnel and ensuring adequate monitoring of the agencies in charge are also seen as vital steps.
Ultimately, the full enforcement of environmental waste laws and the imposition of penalties for violations are considered essential to deterring unlawful practices and ensuring a cleaner, healthier environment in Akure.
While immediate priorities centre on collection and enforcement, longer-term sustainability requires the development of waste minimisation strategies, including community-based source separation programmes and informal sector integration. Given that over 50% of waste in comparable Nigerian cities comprises recyclable materials, appropriately structured recycling schemes could simultaneously reduce disposal volumes, create employment, and generate economic value. Pilot composting programmes for organic market waste could convert a significant fraction of Akure’s waste stream into agricultural amendment materials.
In conclusion, the waste management crisis in Akure, Ondo State, is emblematic of a broader governance and infrastructural challenge confronting secondary urban centres across Nigeria and the wider Global South. The convergence of inadequate infrastructure, weak enforcement, low public compliance, and declining private sector capacity has produced a system in which indiscriminate waste disposal is the norm rather than the exception.
Addressing this crisis demands a coordinated, multi-stakeholder response that integrates legal deterrence, infrastructure investment, community engagement, and institutional accountability. In the context of Nigeria’s commitments to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), the urgency of action in Akure and cities like it cannot be overstated.
By Sasere Omolade Victoria, Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NEST), Ibadan
