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Pakistan urged to stop production, trade of mercury-added whitening creams

Michael Simire
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Pakistan urged to stop production, trade of mercury-added whitening creams

Ahead of the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2026, and the World Consumer Rights Day on the 15th, the toxics watchdog group, EcoWaste Coalition, has announced its discovery of two more “made in Pakistan” cosmetics with extremely high levels of mercury sold online despite the global ban on the production and trade of cosmetics with mercury, a potent neurotoxin that causes severe damage to the brain, kidneys, lungs, skin, and immune system.

“We urge online shoppers not to add to cart and buy Yaz skin-lightening and skin-renewing facial creams that we have verified to contain horrendous levels of mercury measured at 33,970 and 29, 870 parts per million (ppm), respectively,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition. “These imported products, marketed to women to enhance youthful radiance, are a serious threat not only to the health of women but also to their households.”

EcoWaste Coalition
The EcoWaste Coalition urges the authorities to ban these two facial creams from Pakistan and sold online for violating the global ban on mercury use in cosmetics

“Our latest discoveries mark the over 25 Pakistan-made cosmetics our team has verified as mercury-tainted through X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis and subsequently publicised and reported to the authorities,” she said.

The continued production and trade of mercury-laced cosmetics in the said South Asian country prompted the EcoWaste Coalition to press the Government of Pakistan to come down hard on violators and prosecute the culprits to the fullest extent of the law. The Competition Commission of Pakistan on October 15, 2025, announced a crackdown on such toxic products.

“We acknowledge and support the Pakistan government’s ongoing drive to weed out the market of mercury-added cosmetics and urge it to apply the country’s Competition Act to penalize violators and deter would-be offenders,” stated Lucero. Pakistan’s competition law prohibits false or deceptive marketing, which can lead to penalties of up to 75 million rupees (over PH15 million) or 10 percent of annual turnover.

The EcoWaste Coalition obtained the Yaz Beauty Cream Double White + Vitamin C and Yaz Gold Beauty Cream Active White + 24K Gold Dust from an online seller for P160 each (the seller also offers a wide variety of other local and imported cosmetics).

The former claims it “removes acne, wrinkles, freckles and other signs of ageing” and promises it can make users look “pretty and young.” The latter is supposed to “lighten, brighten and moisturise (the) skin,” while “it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and also helps eliminate skin flakiness and remove dark spots to provide a smooth and even complexion.”  Both products are marketed as “3-day solution.”  Yaz Beauty Cream, in particular, claims “difference in color from dark brown to pinkish white” in three days.

Like other cosmetics found to be contaminated with mercury, the labels of both products did not specify mercury or other related terms in the listed ingredients, nor did they provide any mercury content warning.

Aside from Yaz Beauty Cream and Yaz Gold Beauty Cream, the EcoWaste Coalition has reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the following Pakistan-made cosmetics with mercury content: Aima Gold Beauty Cream, AQME Beauty Cream, Aneeza Gold  Beauty Cream, Aneeza Saffron Whitening Cream, Armena Gold Beauty Cream, Biocos Beauty Cream, Chandni Whitening  Cream, Due Beauty Cream, Faiza Beauty Cream, and Golden Pearl Beauty Cream (old and new packaging).

Also reported were Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene (solo and 3-in-one kit), Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream, Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream (solo and 3-in-one kit), Jhalak Beauty Cream, Morning Face Beauty Cream, Parley Beauty Cream, Parley Goldie Advanced Beauty Cream, Parley Herbal Whitening Cream, Pure Pearl Beauty Cream, Safora Beauty Cream, Sandal Beauty Cream, Zartaaj Beauty Cream, Zoya Gold Beauty Cream, and Tibet Snow Cream.

“Many of these tainted products have been flagged by the FDA and are not easy to obtain, but some are advertised and sold with impunity, particularly the three variants of Goree, and Due, Faiza, Golden Pearl, Parley Goldie, Sandal beauty creams,” Lucero said.

“With the steadfast commitment of the Pakistani and Philippine governments, we remain optimistic that the campaign against the unlawful production and trade of cosmetics with mercury additives will reach a successful outcome,” she added.  “Moreover, a government-led advocacy to fight colourism and promote acceptance and respect for the skin colour we are born with will be needed to discourage people from using chemical whiteners containing mercury and other hazardous substances.”

OPEC+ to raise oil output in April

Michael Simire
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OPEC+ to raise oil output in April

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, on Sunday, March 1, 2026, decided to ramp up oil output by 206,000 barrels per day (bpd) in April.

The announcement was made after a virtual meeting where member countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman, reviewed global market conditions and outlook, according to a statement on the OPEC website.

“The eight participating countries decided to resume the unwinding of the 1.65 million barrels per day of additional voluntary adjustments announced in April 2023 and agreed on a production adjustment of 206,000 barrels per day,” the statement said.

OPEC
OPEC

It added that the global economic outlook is steady, and current market fundamentals are healthy, which was reflected in the low oil inventories.

The 1.65 million bpd in voluntary cuts could be phased back in either partially or fully, depending on evolving market conditions and would be implemented gradually, OPEC said.

It said that eight countries are scheduled to meet on April 5 to make the following decisions.

The April output increase is expected to end the OPEC planned production increases for the first quarter of 2026.

The voluntary production cuts of 1.65 million bpd were first announced in April 2023 and were later extended through the end of 2026.

The OPEC+ announcement was made following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which raised concerns about supply disruptions in the Middle East, especially around the Strait of Hormuz.

Market analysis expected oil prices to soar on Monday. 

Coalition warns nuclear contamination, rising seas threaten Pacific catastrophe

Michael Simire
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Coalition warns nuclear contamination, rising seas threaten Pacific catastrophe

Representatives from every inhabited continent joined forces on Friday, February 27, 2026, in an unprecedented show of solidarity over the escalating crisis in the Marshall Islands, where decades-old nuclear contamination and rising sea levels are converging to create what advocates call a “double tragedy” with potentially global consequences.

The international webinar, held on the eve of Nuclear Victims and Survivors Remembrance Day, brought together lawmakers, judges, climate ambassadors and civil society leaders to demand coordinated international action before radioactive debris from Cold War-era weapons testing re-enters marine ecosystems – a scenario scientists warn is growing increasingly likely as Pacific waters rise.

Webinar
Participants at the international webinar on Nuclear Victims and Survivors

March 1 marks the anniversary of the 1954 Castle Bravo hydrogen bomb test, the most powerful nuclear device the United States ever detonated, which showered inhabited atolls with radioactive fallout and left a legacy of illness, displacement and environmental destruction that persists more than seven decades later.

A ticking nuclear clock

Between 1946 and 1958, the United States conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands, vaporising entire islands and contaminating vast stretches of land and ocean across the central Pacific.

Today, the most pressing concern centres on the Runit Dome on Enewetak Atoll – a concrete cap built in the late 1970s to contain radioactive soil and debris from the testing programme.

Rising sea levels now threaten to compromise the aging structure, raising urgent fears that plutonium, cesium and other radioactive materials could leach into the surrounding ocean.

The potential breach would not only devastate local communities already grappling with severe climate vulnerabilities but could also contaminate broader Pacific marine ecosystems, transforming what has long been treated as a localised problem into an international environmental emergency.

‘The world can no longer look away’

Benetick Kabua Maddison, executive director of the Marshallese Educational Initiative, framed the crisis in stark terms.

“The world is witnessing a ‘double tragedy’ in real time,” Maddison said.

“The unresolved nuclear contamination in the Marshall Islands, combined with the climate crisis, constitutes a global security concern. This is about our right to a safe future, and the world can no longer look away.”

Maddison said the intercontinental nature of Friday’s gathering was deliberate, intended to demonstrate that the Marshall Islands’ fight is no longer a bilateral dispute between a small Pacific nation and the United States but a matter demanding global engagement.

Legal accountability endures

Justice Thushara Rajasinghe of the High Court of Fiji delivered a pointed legal assessment, arguing that state responsibility for environmental harm does not diminish with time – a principle with direct implications for the United States’ obligations to the Marshall Islands.

Rajasinghe called for the development and implementation of practical legal frameworks to ensure accountability and preventive protection against climate-induced nuclear risks, suggesting that existing international law provides sufficient basis for action if the political will can be marshaled.

Hiroshi Vitus Yamamura, a Marshallese member of Parliament and former minister of public works, praised the resilience of his people while emphasising the urgent need for global technical and legal cooperation to address the long-term health and environmental consequences of the testing era.

European voices join the chorus

The crisis has drawn increasing attention from European climate advocates. EU Climate Pact Ambassadors, Lalit Bhusal of the Netherlands and Andy Vermaut of Belgium, highlighted the critical role of civil society in elevating the Marshall Islands’ plight within the broader global climate justice agenda.

Their participation underscored a growing recognition that the intersection of nuclear contamination and climate change in the Pacific represents a test case for international accountability – one with implications for contaminated sites and climate-vulnerable communities worldwide.

Beyond rhetoric

The dialogue, convened by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light – an international peace organization founded in 2013 – concluded with a unified call for the international community to move beyond rhetoric and commit to coordinated technical, legal and financial mechanisms to secure contaminated sites before irreversible environmental consequences unfold.

The demands reflect mounting frustration among Marshallese leaders and their international allies that decades of advocacy have produced insufficient action from the United States, which has maintained that a 1986 compact settlement adequately addressed its obligations – a position the Marshall Islands government and independent assessments have repeatedly contested.

For the approximately 42,000 people who call the Marshall Islands home, the convergence of nuclear legacy and climate crisis presents an existential threat.

Their atolls, most barely two metres above sea level, face inundation within decades.

The question now is whether the international attention generated by gatherings like Friday’s webinar can translate into the concrete action needed before the Pacific swallows both the evidence and the people who have borne its consequences for three generations.

By Winston Mwale, AfricaBrief

Water contracts: CAPPA flays Lagos’ secrecy, violation of procedural framework

Michael Simire
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Water contracts: CAPPA flays Lagos’ secrecy, violation of procedural framework

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has condemned what it described as the opaqueness and significant procedural violations in the Lagos Water Corporation’s (LWC) ongoing procurement process for mini and micro water works under a Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (BFOT) Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

According to reports, the LWC issued a tender in September last year, inviting proposals from private firms for the rehabilitation, upgrade, operation, and maintenance of multiple public water facilities across Lagos, including Lekki and Akilo Waterworks, Victoria Island Annex and Magodo Waterworks, Abesan and Alexander Waterworks, and Apapa Waterworks.

Mukhtaar Tijani
Managing Director of the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Muktaar Tijani

However, in a statement endorsed on Sunday, March 1, 2026, by Robert Egbe, the organisation’s Media & Communications Officer, CAPPA alleged that Lagos State’s pattern of deliberate non-disclosure surrounding its supposedly ill-advised plan to privatise public water supply through PPP arrangements not only contravenes mandatory transparency requirements under the state’s own laws but also erodes accountability in the governance of a vital public resource.

The organisation noted that though the Lagos State PPP Disclosure Framework (2024) expressly mandates proactive public disclosure at every stage of PPP projects, the LWC has continued to conduct mini and micro waterworks procurement in secrecy.

According to the organisation, the Framework requires that feasibility studies, Requests for Proposals, bidder lists, evaluation criteria, contract summaries, fiscal risk assessments, and procurement milestones be published proactively on a public portal without waiting for Freedom of Information (FoI) requests. This obligation applies to all PPP projects, including ongoing procurements such as the mini and micro waterworks programme.

CAPPA stressed that these requirements are not discretionary but mandatory, yet, since the procurement commenced last year, none of the required disclosures has been made available to the public.

The statement observed that not only were full RFP details withheld from stakeholders and communities directly affected by the proposed concessions, but also, to date, the identities of bidders, evaluation criteria, procurement timelines, and award decisions remain undisclosed. No documentation of the process has been published on the Lagos PPP disclosure portal managed by the Office of Public-Private Partnerships (OPPP), the statutory body charged with ensuring transparency across all PPP projects, added the statement.

CAPPA further noted that instead of compliance with the Framework’s requirement that information be made easily accessible through official state platforms, the only substantive public information about the procurement so far has emerged through a paywalled foreign industry publication, Global Water Intelligence, which reported that the LWC received 19 proposals by October 2025 and expected to conclude awards by March 2026 for a 10-year deal.

“In February 2026, CAPPA also learned through foreign news that Lagos State has initiated a parallel process to privatise wastewater infrastructure, beginning with wastewater treatment plants, including facilities in Lekki.” The statement described this situation as “deeply troubling and revealing.”

“It is disturbing,” CAPPA said, “that residents of Lagos and affected communities must rely on an expensive foreign subscription journal to learn about decisions concerning their own public water and sanitation systems, while their government and its water agency refuse to disclose the same information domestically.”

CAPPA added that the pattern reflects a broader contradiction in the PPP process.

“The Lagos State Government and certain international organisations actively supporting this approach and governance model continue to disregard disclosure and accountability standards with impunity in Nigeria. These are standards they would never contemplate breaching in their own jurisdictions.”

The organisation emphasised that the secrecy surrounding the mini and micro waterworks PPP is a substantive governance failure with direct implications for affordability, access, and long-term public control of water services.

“Experience across jurisdictions shows that PPP water arrangements frequently result in tariff escalation, reduced public oversight, and long-term fiscal risks, while failing to deliver sustained infrastructure investment. Just as we are already witnessing in Lagos, the ongoing push toward private participation in water and wastewater infrastructure is proceeding through shady processes that limit democratic scrutiny and weaken public accountability,” it added.

In light of these, CAPPA made the following demands:

“The Lagos State Government should immediately suspend the mini and micro waterworks PPP procurement until full compliance with statutory disclosure obligations is achieved, alongside the prompt publication of all outstanding procurement documents, including feasibility studies, RFP documentation, bidder identities and track records, and evaluation criteria.

“There should be an independent review and oversight to safeguard procedural integrity and public interest, as well as genuine public engagement and stakeholder consultation in all decisions concerning water governance and infrastructure management in Lagos State.

“Finally, the state must urgently correct the brazen and ongoing violations of its own transparency framework.

“Transparency obligations in water governance are statutory. The Lagos State Government cannot simultaneously claim adherence to PPP disclosure standards while conducting one of its most consequential water infrastructure procurements in secrecy. Compliance with the law is the minimum condition for legitimate governance of public resources,” CAPPA said.

The organisation also maintained that publicly financed and democratically governed water systems remain the most equitable and accountable model. It therefore called on the Lagos State Government to strengthen public institutions and essential infrastructure by allocating increased public funding, reinvesting sector revenues into system maintenance and expansion, and prioritising universal access over commercialisation.’

CAPPA concluded by urging all residents, civil society actors, labour unions, and concerned stakeholders to pay close attention to the state’s water governance processes and actively defend transparency, accountability, and public interest in decisions affecting the lives of Lagosians.

Global conflict highlights fearful costs of fossil fuel dependence – Group

Michael Simire
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Global conflict highlights fearful costs of fossil fuel dependence – Group

In response to escalating violent conflict involving Iran and the reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz, climate justice organisation, 350.org, has warned that the crisis exposes the costs of continued reliance on fossil fuels.

A strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world’s most strategically important choke points.

Iran holds the world’s third biggest oil reserves while Strait of Hormuz carries one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply – making it critical for the global economy and impacting people around the world and their household budgets.

Strait of Hormuz
Strait of Hormuz

Olivia Langhoff, Managing Director at 350.org, said: “The new war on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz lay bare the horrendous costs of a world chained to fossil fuels. When global energy security can be upended by a single flashpoint, it shows how unstable and risky our dependence on oil and gas is.

“Renewable energy provides home-grown power that remains secure and affordable regardless of geopolitical shocks.”

The price of crude oil has already risen 20% this year, and is expected to spike even more now. In 2022, energy and food price shocks triggered by the war in Ukraine pushed over 70 million people into poverty in the space of only three months, according to the United Nations Development Programme.

350.org is calling on governments to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy that strengthens communities, protects the Earth, and reduces exposure to global instability.

“Once again, families will pay the price through fossil fuel-driven inflation: higher fuel costs, rising energy bills, and more expensive groceries as a consequence. All because of a system tied to a volatile, conflict-driven industry.

“Renewable energy offers a world-wide path to real and long-term energy security, one rooted in cooperation, resilience, and justice, rather than instability and violence,” Langhoff added.

UN carbon market approves first‑ever issuance of credits under the Paris Agreement

Michael Simire
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UN carbon market approves first‑ever issuance of credits under the Paris Agreement

A UN Body has approved the first credits to be issued under the UN carbon market established by the Paris Agreement. 

The approved activity is a clean‑cooking project in Myanmar, which distributes efficient cookstoves that reduce harmful household air pollution and lessen pressure on local forests.  

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, said: “Over two billion people globally are without access to clean cooking, which kills millions every year. Clean cooking protects health, saves forests, cuts emissions and helps empowers women and girls, who are typically hardest hit by household air pollution.

Traditional stove
Old woman cooking with traditional stove. Traditional wood‑fired stoves like these are being replaced with cleaner, more efficient models

“The first credits to be issued through the UN carbon market under the Paris Agreement come from a clean‑cooking project, and they show how this mechanism can support solutions that make a big difference in people’s daily lives, as well as channeling finance to where it delivers real-life benefits on the ground. 

“The opportunities presented by this UN carbon market across all regions are vast, particularly now that strong environmental safeguards, robust standards, and a clear system for redress are in place to ensure integrity, inclusiveness and efficiency.” 

The project is coordinated with authorised participants from the Republic of Korea.  

Credits authorised for use in Korea can be transferred to Korean entities for use in the Korean Emissions Trading System, contributing to the Republic of Korea’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The remainder will be used by Myanmar toward its own NDC.

Article 6.4 Supervisory Body Chair, Mkhuthazi Steleki, said: “This initial issuance reflects the careful application of the rules set by countries under the Paris Agreement. By applying updated values and more conservative calculations, the credited reductions are about 40 percent lower than what older systems would have issued. The result is consistent with environmental integrity requirements and ensures that each credited tonne genuinely represents a tonne reduced and contributes to the goals of the Paris Agreement.”

The project previously received a provisional issuance under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Under the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, updated values and more conservative calculations are applied, recognising earlier investments while ensuring credited reductions reflect the latest available science and information. 

These adjustments result in credited reductions that are roughly 40 percent lower than under the CDM, ensuring the issued credits more closely reflect real‑world impact in the current context. 

This sets the foundation for the mechanism’s broader role in supporting mitigation activities that deliver tangible community benefits. 

Article 6.4 Supervisory Body Vice Chair, Jacqui Ruesga, said: “Starting with a clean‑cooking project is a fitting demonstration of where the demand and impact are what the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism can do: support activities that bring clear co-benefits for people, such as better indoor air quality, while reducing emissions.

“Last year we requested the use of an updated methodological approach, which means the credits issued are aligned with the best available information and a careful calculation of the reductions achieved. Our focus is on building confidence in this market from the outset, and this first issuance shows that the system is working as intended.” 

This first issuance also responds to strong private‑sector demand for seeing the UN’s Paris‑aligned carbon market shift from design into real‑world operation. 

Next steps 

Approval remains subject to a 14‑day appeal period during which activity participants, the host country, and stakeholders directly affected by the project may submit an appeal. 

Looking ahead, there is a growing pipeline of more than 165 host‑Party‑approved projects transitioning from the Clean Development Mechanism into the new Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism. These activities span sectors such as waste management, energy, industry, agriculture and more, signaling that a wide range of real‑world climate projects across multiple regions are due to follow. 

Gov Kefas flags off Bobboji Storm Water Project, upgrades ACReSAL to full-fledged agency

Michael Simire
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Gov Kefas flags off Bobboji Storm Water Project, upgrades ACReSAL to full-fledged agency

The Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has officially flagged off the implementation of the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and the construction of the Bobboji Storm Water Flood Control Project in Jalingo, alongside the declaration of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Unit into a full-fledged agency.

The programme featured two phases: a field visit to the Bobboji project site for the formal flag-off of the Storm Water Drainage Control Project, followed by a main ceremony at the Jolly Nyame Stadium.

Taraba State
R-L: Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas; Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal; World Bank Task Team Lead, Dr. Joy Iganya; and Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change, Taraba State, Hajiya Aishat A. Barde, at the flag-off of climate-smart agricultural inputs in Jalingo, Taraba State, on February 27, 2026

At the project site, the Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change and Chairperson of the ACReSAL Steering Committee, Hajiya Aishat A. Barde, described the Bobboji Storm Water Project to Gov. Kefas as a strategic intervention aimed at addressing persistent urban flooding, improving environmental sanitation, strengthening climate resilience, and enhancing adaptive capacity and sustainability within the Bobboji axis.

The World Bank Task Team Lead for ACReSAL, Dr. Joy Iganya Agene, stated that the initiative would create employment opportunities, strengthen security conditions, and economically empower communities within the Bobboji corridor. She emphasized that climate-smart investments simultaneously drive environmental resilience and local economic growth.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, commended the Taraba State Government for aligning with national climate and environmental priorities. He noted that the project would significantly reduce flood risks and environmental hazards, while improving public safety and sanitation outcomes.

Taraba State
Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas, and Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal, during the flag-off event for the Implementation of the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and Construction of the Bobboji Stormwater Drainage Control Project in Jalingo, Taraba State

At the project site, Governor Kefas formally flagged off the implementation through a practical demonstration, signaling the commencement of construction and restoring hope to residents of the Bobboji neighbourhood.

 The intervention is expected to address the recurring annual flooding that has resulted in displacement, as well as the loss of lives and livelihoods.

During the main event, Governor Kefas approved the upgrade of the ACReSAL Unit into the Taraba State Agro-Climatic and Watershed Management Agency (TARAWMA), thereby establishing a permanent institutional framework for watershed restoration, climate adaptation, and sustainable environmental management across the state.

Describing the occasion as a defining moment for Taraba State, the Governor expressed appreciation to the Minister and the World Bank team for their presence and continued support. He assured them of sustained collaboration and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening partnerships aimed at reversing environmental degradation and advancing sustainable development.

Taraba State
Some of the climate-smart assets displayed for distribution to community interest groups to enhance food security, flood control, and waste management in Taraba State

As part of the rollout, tractors, power tillers, water pumps, clean cooking stoves, and skip bins, were sumbolically distributed to farmers and communities to strengthen mechanised agriculture, improve waste management, and boost food security.

Compensation cheques were also presented to affected landowners under the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), reaffirming the Governor’s commitment to fairness and responsible development.

Also speaking at the main ceremony, the Minister outlined further collaboration opportunities with Taraba State, including a proposed Rosewood Restoration Plan across Taraba, Cross River, and Benue states; implementation of the National Clean Cooking Policy to reduce deforestation; and support for waste-to-wealth initiatives under the Circular Economy Policy.

 He emphasised the urgent need to protect Nigeria’s low forest cover and curb illegal logging, referencing the Federal Government’s ban on wood exports.

The Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change, Hajiya Aishat A. Barde, welcomed the Minister and other dignitaries, and highlighted the vital role of women in climate resilience. 

She noted that while women are often among the most vulnerable to climate impacts, Governor Kefas recognises them as powerful agents of resilience.

She commended his appointment of a woman to lead the sector as a demonstration of inclusive and transformative leadership aligned with global best practices, and reaffirmed her commitment to climate justice, women-led solutions, and gender-responsive economic empowerment.

The Taraba ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Dr. Clement Giwa, presented progress on land restoration efforts, showcasing implementation milestones supported by geotechnical evidence and field data.

He disclosed that Taraba State achieved a 68% performance score at the World Bank Mid-Term Review held in Jos, Plateau State, in December 2025, reflecting steady progress under the programme.

The combined initiatives are said to reflect Governor Kefas’ visionary leadership and Taraba State’s firm commitment to climate action, inclusive growth, and sustainable environmental management.

Sagamu-Ibadan gas pipeline hits 80% completion as REA earmarks N170bn for 500 power projects

Michael Simire
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0
Sagamu-Ibadan gas pipeline hits 80% completion as REA earmarks N170bn for 500 power projects

The Managing Director of NIPCO Gas Ltd., Mr. Nagendra Verma, says the 18-inch, 80-kilometre Sagamu–Ibadan natural gas pipeline has reached 80 per cent completion.

Verma disclosed this during an interactive session with energy correspondents on Friday, February 27, 2026, in Lagos.

He stated that the project is scheduled for delivery between June and July, reaffirming the company’s commitment to completing the strategic infrastructure within the projected timeline.

Nagendra Verma
Nagendra Verma, Managing Director of NIPCO Gas Ltd.

According to him, the pipeline, being developed in partnership with NNPC Gas Marketing Ltd. (NGML), will significantly boost gas supply to industrial and commercial consumers in Ogun and Oyo states, as well as adjoining areas in the Southwest.

Verma described the Sagamu–Ibadan pipeline as a major milestone in Nigeria’s gas expansion drive, noting that it is expected to strengthen industrial productivity and enhance energy security.

“This critical infrastructure will improve manufacturing competitiveness, lower production costs for industries dependent on alternative fuels, and stimulate regional economic growth,” he said.

He added that given the project’s strategic importance to Southwest industrialisation and national energy security, the company sought the continued cooperation and support of relevant federal and state authorities to ensure seamless execution.

Verma explained that many manufacturers in the region currently rely on diesel and Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO), both of which are more expensive and subject to price volatility.

He noted that access to pipeline gas would provide a more stable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative, enabling businesses to optimise operations and expand capacity.

Beyond the Ibadan corridor, he disclosed that NIPCO Gas, in collaboration with NGML, is also developing complementary gas distribution infrastructure from Sagamu to Abeokuta to deepen gas penetration across Ogun State.

The Sagamu–Abeokuta project, he said, is aimed at accelerating industrial growth by providing reliable gas supply to existing manufacturers while attracting fresh investments into the state.

He further noted that the initiative is projected to improve energy reliability, enhance operational efficiency for businesses and boost internally generated revenue through increased economic activity.

“The project continues to enjoy strong collaboration and support from the Ogun State Government, reflecting a shared commitment to energy-driven economic development and sustainable industrial expansion,” Verma added.

The Sagamu–Ibadan pipeline as strategic backbone infrastructure that will further consolidate Ogun and Oyo states as leading industrial hubs in the Southwest.

Improved access to natural gas is expected to drive growth across key sectors, including cement, food and beverage, steel, pharmaceuticals and agro-processing.

In a related development, Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has listed 500 projects in the 2026 budget to boost electricity supply in strategic public institutions and rural communities across the country.

Managing Director of the agency, Dr Abba Aliyu, made this known while addressing newsmen on the sidelines of the 2026 budget defence session organised by House Committee on Rural Electrification in Abuja on Friday.

He said that the total budget size for 2026 operations is N170 billion, out of which N100 billion had been approved for National Public Sector Solarisation.

The managing director said that the N100 billion targets provision of hybrid mini-grid for government agencies within and outside Abuja.

“In the National Hospital in Abuja, you can see our infrastructure, trying to provide reliable electricity to reduce the cost of electricity at the hospital.

“In the 2026 budget, we have a plan for over 500 different projects; a number of them are extension of grid for communities that are very close to the grid where we extend the grid, deploy transformers to power the communities.

“We have also a reasonable number of mini-grids for communities that are agrarian in nature or have cottage industries,” he said.

Aliyu said that the agency had also planned for mini-grids in an agricultural processing area in the 2026 budget.

“We also have plans for deployment of solar home system for sparsely  populated communities. What we presented to the National Assembly is the details of this 500 projects that are to be executed,” he said.

Accounting for the 2024 budget, Aliyu said that the agency achieved 85 per cent budget performance.

He said that the agency had so far achieved 32 per cent of the 2025 budget in spite of the low release of funds experienced during the fiscal year.

Earlier, Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Mohammed Bukar (APC-Borno), said that after thorough deliberations and scrutiny, the committee was satisfied with the explanations provided and the documentation presented by the agency.

He said that measurable progress had been made in expanding energy access through off-grid and renewable energy interventions across rural communities, federal institutions and public sector establishments nationwide.

The lawmaker acknowledged the agency’s compliance with applicable procurement laws, fiduciary safeguards and development partner frameworks governing its operations.

He, however, said that the committee would embark on oversight visits for on-the-spot assessments, in line with constitutional demands.

“Legislative oversight is a critical pillar of accountability, and we will continue to ensure that the Rural Electrification Agency remains aligned with its statutory mandate and national development priorities.

“However, at this stage, we are satisfied that the agency is operating within its mandate and delivering tangible impact.

“We encourage the agency to sustain this momentum, as Nigeria advances its rural electrification and energy transition objectives.”

By Yunus Yusuf and EricJames Ochigbo

Power generation falls to 4,300MW amid gas shortage, Enugu experiences drop in power supply

Michael Simire
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0
Power generation falls to 4,300MW amid gas shortage, Enugu experiences drop in power supply

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) says power generation has dropped to approximately 4,300 megawatts due to inadequate gas supply to thermal generating stations.

The management of NISO disclosed this in a statement on Friday, February 27, 2026, in Abuja, warning that the reduced output directly affected electricity supply to distribution companies (DisCos).

According to the statement, thermal plants account for the majority of Nigeria’s generation mix, so any disruption in gas supply limits overall grid capacity and reduces energy allocation to DisCos.

Power distribution
Power distribution infrastructure

“Operational data shows thermal power plants require about 1,629.75 million standard cubic feet (MMSCF) of gas per day to operate at optimal capacity, but actual supply as of Feb. 23 was only 692 MMSCF.

“This represents less than 43 per cent of the required volume, resulting in constrained generation output,” NISO said, adding that the shortfall is driving load shedding across the system.

The system operator noted that dispatching available energy followed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) allocation percentages to maintain grid stability and prevent system disturbances.

NISO expressed regret for the inconvenience the situation might cause consumers and market participants and said it was working with stakeholders to restore full energy allocation as gas supply improved.

Meanwhile, the MainPower Electricity Distribution Ltd. (MEDL) says the recent drop in power supply across network in Enugu State is due to inadequate gas supply to thermal generating stations.

Its spokesman, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, made the disclosure in a statement in Enugu on Friday.

Ezeh said this development had reduced energy generation and allocation to the company.

“As a result of the decline in generation, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), in a bid to maintain grid stability and prevent system disturbances, is currently implementing load shedding across the national grid.

“This has impacted power availability to our network and by extension, our customers.

“We wish to assure our customers that this situation is not peculiar to MEDL, but a system-wide challenge arising from the current generation constraints.

“We are actively engaging with relevant stakeholders and remain hopeful that the gas supply issues will be resolved soon, leading to improved power supply,” he said.

He commended residents for their patience and understanding, adding, “we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused”.

MEDL is a subsidiary company of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

By Constance Athekame and Stanley Nwanosike

NIMASA backs national maritime decarbonisation plan

Michael Simire
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NIMASA backs national maritime decarbonisation plan

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has pledged regulatory leadership and technical coordination to deliver a robust national maritime decarbonisation action plan.

The commitment was conveyed on Thursday, February 26, 2026, in Lagos during a national workshop on the IMO GreenVoyage2050 Project programme.

Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, described the workshop as a critical step towards achieving the Federal Government’s blue economy and climate objectives.

NIMASA
L-R: Kabiru Bello, Deputy Director, Marine Environment Management, MEM, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA; Mrs Oritsematosan Edodo Emore, Nigeria Treasurer, Anglophone, Women in Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa, WIMOWCA; Mr Fatai Taiye Adeyemi Executive Director Operations, NIMASA; Dr John Ogwuche, representative of Minister of Marine and Blue Economy; and Dr Oma Offodile, Director, MEM, during the National Workshop on IMO GreenVoyage2050 programme in Lagos on Thursday

Mobereola, represented by Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Fatai Adeyemi, underscored the project’s importance in supporting developing countries to implement the IMO greenhouse gas strategy.

He said the emerging national action plan would reflect national realities, leverage existing capacity, address gaps and align with broader economic and environmental priorities.

“The transition is not merely about compliance with international obligations. It is about safeguarding the marine environment and national interest,” Mobereola said.

He added that the shift would protect public health, strengthen the blue economy and ensure Nigeria’s maritime industry remains competitive and future-ready.

Also speaking, Mrs. Astrid Dispert, Technical Manager of the IMO GreenVoyage2050 Project, stressed the initiative’s goal of advancing a coherent, globally aligned regulatory framework.

She emphasised NIMASA’s pivotal role in driving the project nationally and coordinating stakeholders toward effective maritime decarbonisation.

“The IMO GreenVoyage2050 Project provides technical expertise and institutional support to help countries develop and implement national action plans promoting sustainable shipping and clean technologies.

“Through this collaboration, the Federal Government is taking deliberate steps towards maritime decarbonisation and reinforcing its commitment to global climate goals,” she said.

By Aisha Cole

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